Clinical Evaluation of Viscous Tetracaine HCL 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution

Abstract

Purpose: : To evaluate the effects of topical application of viscous tetracaine HCL 0.5% (TetraVisc^TM) ophthalmic solution on central corneal thickness.

Methods: : Single–center, open label study of 20 healthy eyes of 10 patients. The right eye served as the control and received non–preserved carboxymethycellulose sodium 0.5%. Baseline measurements of best–corrected distance visual acuity and Orbscan® analysis were performed on both eyes. Non–preserved carboxymethycellulose sodium was instilled in the right eye of each patient and the left eye received one drop of viscous tetracaine HCL 0.5% (TetraVisc^TM). After 5 minutes, best–corrected visual acuity and Orbscan® analysis were repeated on both eyes.

Results: : Average overall central corneal thickness was increased to a greater degree in the eyes instilled with carboxymethycellulose sodium. The mean central corneal thickness change was increased by 11.1 microns with carboxymethycellulose sodium and 9.2 microns with tetracaine HCL 0.5% (TetraVisc^TM). There were no significant changes in visual acuities before or after instillation of carboxymethycellulose sodium or tetracaine HCL.

Conclusions: : The effects on the central corneal thickness after application of viscous tetracaine HCL 0.5% (TetraVisc^TM) are less than the non–preserved carboxymethycellulose sodium 0.5%.

Keywords: cornea: epithelium • ocular irritancy/toxicity testing