Does Topical Ophthalmic Proparacaine 0.5% Prior to Probing and Irrigation Decrease Pain?

Recruiting now · Phase 4 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Epiphora, Dacryostenosis, Dacryocystitis

In brief

Purpose: It is unknown whether instillation of a drop of anesthetic ophthalmic solution into the eye such as proparacaine hydrochloride 0.5% prior to probing and irrigation of the tear duct (lacrimal drainage) system improves participant comfort during the procedure. To date, there have been no formal studies evaluating the possible benefit of this pretreatment. Methods: Participants 18 years and older who present to the Louisiana State University or associated outpatient ophthalmology clinic(s) with a complaint of epiphora (excessive tearing) who necessitate bilateral lower lid probing and irrigation of the lacrimal drainage system will be enrolled in the study. One eye will be randomized to receive a drop of the anesthetic Proparacaine hydrochloride 0.5% and the other eye will receive a control drop of Balanced Salt Solution (BSS). Probing and irrigation will then be performed in the usual fashion. The participant will then be questioned via survey on a pain scale of 1-5 as to the amount of subjective pain experienced on each side during the procedure. Expected Results: Investigators expect participants will experience statistically significantly less pain in eyes that have received a drop of Proparacaine hydrochloride 0.5% prior to performance of probing and irrigation compared to the eyes which have received the control drop.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05663684

Run by

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans

People needed

145

Starts

2020-06-30

Expected to finish

2023-01-31

Last updated by the study team

2022-12-23

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participants of any sex aged 18 years or older
• Signs and symptoms of epiphora which necessitate performance of a diagnostic probing and irrigation of the bilateral lower eyelid lacrimal drainage system at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center or any of the listed physician offices who present with a complaint of epiphora from either eye

You may not qualify if…

• A known allergy to topical proparacaine hydrochloride
• Known pre-existing scarring, surgery, radiation to the nasolacrimal system
• Presence of blockage and or reflux on probing and irrigation of either side
• Cognitive Impairment

Where it is running

• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center — New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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