A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial To Evaluate The Role of Topical Anaesthetics In Controlling Pain After Corneal Abrasion In The Emergency Department
- Conditions
- Corneal abrasionsEye - Diseases / disorders of the eye
- Registration Number
- ACTRN12611000448943
- Lead Sponsor
- Southland Hospital
- Brief Summary
Not available
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Completed
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 180
Inclusion criteria includes any simple acute corneal abrasions from mechanical trauma, ultraviolet light, foreign body, or from removal of foreign body by the physician.
For patients to be eligible for this study they also need to have presented to the Emergency Department within 36 hours of their initial injury.
Exclusion criteria. There are a number of reasons that subjects may be excluded from participating in this study.
If patients present to the Emergency Department more that 36 hours after their initial injury they will be excluded as the majority of corneal abrasion healing will already have occured.
If patients are under the age of 18.
If patients have had previous eye surgery or cataracts.
If patients wear contact lenses or if their injury was caused from contact lens wear.
If patients are unable to give informed consent.
If patients are suffering from infectious or chemical conjunctivitis.
If the patients eye contains a grossly contaminated foreign body.
If the patient is suffering from an ocular infection.
If the patient currently has herpes keratitis.
If the patient is allergic to Tetracaine or similar medication classes.
If the injury requires urgent ophthalmologic evaluation (e.g. penetrating eye injuries, large or complicated corneal abrasions or injuries causing a significant disruption of vision).
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method The primary outcome of this study is to show that short term use of topical anaesthetics for corneal abrasions is safe and will not affect corneal healing.[The patients will be followed up at a 48 hour check where a senior medical physician will re examine the cornea under the slit lamp for evidence of adequate healing. Visual acuity will be tested on presentation at the Emergency Department and at the 48 hour follow up. Patients will be contacted by telephone at 1 week and 1 month where they will be asked additional questions to check how effective they thought he treatment drug was, if their vision has returned to normal, if they have experienced any adverse effects or if the suffered from any complications during or after the treatment.]
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method The secondary outcome of this study is to show that short term use of topical anaesthetics will reduce pain for patients suffering from corneal abrasions.[The participants will complete a Pain Questionnaire for the 48 hours after leaving the Emergency Department. Pain level will be measured on a horizontal 10cm Visual Analog Scale. Participants will record their pain level every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours and then every 2 hours (while they are awake) for the next 48 hours.]