Adult Dosing

Foreign body removal; suture removal

• Instill 1-2 gtt in eye(s) q5-10 mins for 1-3 doses

Ophthalmic anesthesia; short procedures

• Instill 1-2 gtt in eye(s) before procedure

Tonometry

• Instill 1-2 gtt in eye(s) before measurement

Ophthalmic anesthesia; prolonged procedures (cataract)

• Instill 1-2 gtt in eye(s) q5-10 mins x 3-5 doses

Pediatric Dosing

• Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established

• Topical anesthesia
• Procedures like tonometry, gonioscopy
• Removal of foreign bodies and sutures from the cornea
• Short procedures involving the cornea and conjunctiva
• Examination and irrigation of painful injuries
• Surgical procedures such as cataract

• Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the product

• N/A

Renal dose adjustment

• Renal impairment: No dose adjustments

Hepatic dose adjustment

• Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustments

• Protect the eye from irritating chemicals, foreign bodies during anesthesia
• Concentrations higher than 0.5% can cause occasional temporary stinging, burning and conjunctival redness
• Warn patients not to touch or rub the eye(s) until the anesthesia has worn off
• Prolonged use may cause permanent corneal opacification with accompanying loss of vision

Cautions: Use cautiously in

• Hx of allergies
• Cardiac disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Cholinesterase deficiency
• Avoid long term use

Pregnancy Category:C

Breastfeeding: Safety unknown; topical application of tetracaine to the mother is unlikely to affect her breastfed infant. However, an alternate drug might be preferred especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 25th November 2010). Manufacturer advises caution.

• LOCAL: Corneal opacification, delayed ocular wound healing, epithelial keratopathy, corneal hypersensitivity reactions, stinging, ocular irritation, redness, contact dermatitis, lacrimation, photophobia, and chemosis
• CNS: Seizures, CNS depression

• Local anesthetic; inhibits depolarization of neuronal membrane and thereby blocks initiation and conduction of nerve impulses
• With 0.5% soln onset of action: 25 seconds
• Duration of action: 15 mins
• Metabolized by plasma; CYP450: None
• Excretion: Unknown
• Half-life: Unknown

US Availability

tetracaine (generic)

• OPTH SOLN: 0.1%
• OPTH SOLN: 0.5 %

Canadian Trade Name(s)

• Minims tetracaine

Canadian Availability

Minims tetracaine

• OPTH SOLN: 0.5%
• OPTH SOLN: 1%

UK Trade Name(s)

• Minims tetracaine

UK Availability

Minims tetracaine

• OPTH SOLN: 0.5%
• OPTH SOLN: 1%

Australian Trade Name(s)

• Minims amethocaine

Australian Availability

Minims amethocaine

• OPTH SOLN: 0.1%
• OPTH SOLN: 0.5%

Ophthalmic

Ophthalmic Anesthetics

Anesthesia

Ophthalmic Anesthetics