Masked trial of topical anesthesia for XXXX eye examinations.

@entity1 @entity24505 @entity158 @entity989
PURPOSE: To observe the effect of a topical anesthetic on @entity158 and corneal clarity in premature @entity1 undergoing eye examinations for @entity989 ( @entity989 ). METHODS: @entity989 examinations were performed on premature @entity1 who were randomized to receive either @entity24505 0.5% or an artificial tear solution in the right eye. All @entity1 received an artificial tear solution in the left eye. Assessment of discomfort was performed by use of the Premature @entity1 @entity158 Profile (PIPP) during examination of the right eye, with a @entity158 event defined as a PIPP score>= 11. The left eye was then examined and a comparison of corneal clarity was made between the 2 eyes. RESULTS: A total of 39 examinations were performed on 34 @entity1 : artificial tear solution was administered 17 times and topical @entity24505 anesthetic 22 times. The mean PIPP score for those receiving artificial tears was 10.4 compared with 8.8 for the anesthetic group (p=0.17). Of the examinations without anesthetic, 65% were @entity158 , compared with 27% with anesthetic (p=0.04). No effect on corneal clarity was observed in any examination. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a topical anesthetic appears to marginally decrease @entity158 and has no adverse effect on subjectively assessed corneal clarity during examination of premature @entity1 for @entity989 .
