N
The Daily Insight

What is proparacaine eye drops?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on March 01, 2026

Proparacaine eye drops are used to numb the eye before surgery, certain tests, or procedures. The eye drops are used to prevent pain during the procedure. Proparacaine belongs to the group of medicines called local anesthetics. It works by blocking the pain signals at the nerve endings in the eye.

What is the generic name for Alcaine?

ALCAINE® (proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) (Proparacaine Hydrochloride) is a topical anesthetic prepared as a sterile aqueous ophthalmic solution.

What drops numb the eye?

Proparacaine drops (Alcaine, Ocu-Caine) block the nerve endings in your eye from feeling pain. These drops are considered a topical anesthetic. Some people who are sensitive to other local anesthetics find they’re able to use proparacaine without issue.

Is Proxymetacaine the same as proparacaine?

Proxymetacaine is available as its hydrochloride salt in ophthalmic solutions at a concentration of 0.5%. Although it is no longer on patent, it is still marketed under the trade names Alcaine, Ak-Taine, and others. Proparacaine 0.5% is marketed as Poencaina by Poen Laboratories.

What is the cost of proparacaine?

The cost for proparacaine ophthalmic ophthalmic solution 0.5% is around $32 for a supply of 15 milliliters, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans.

What is proparacaine used for?

Proparacaine eye drops are used to numb the eye before surgery, certain tests, or procedures. The eye drops are used to prevent pain during the procedure.

Is proparacaine the same as lidocaine?

We conclude that, compared with proparacaine 0.5% eye drops, a single application of lidocaine 2% gel improves peri-operative analgesia and reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in elective paediatric squint surgery.

How long can you use proparacaine?

How often can you use proparacaine (Alcaine)? For short procedures on the eye, your provider will give you 1 drop of proparacaine (Alcaine) per dose, every 5 to 10 minutes for up to 5 to 7 doses. Since this medication is only for short-term use, you won’t be able to take any more afterwards.

Is proparacaine the same as tetracaine?

Proparacaine lasted 1.3 minutes longer than tetracaine, 10.7 minutes versus 9.4 minutes (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Proparacaine eye drops cause less pain than tetracaine eye drops upon instillation. Anesthesia from proparacaine last slightly longer. These properties make proparacaine preferable to tetracaine.

Is proparacaine an amide or ester?

There are 2 classes of local anesthetics, amides and esters. Esters include benzocaine, chloroprocaine, cocaine, procaine, proparacaine, and tetracaine. The amides include articaine, bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, ropivacaine, and finally, lidocaine.

Which is stronger proparacaine and tetracaine?

The mean pain score for tetracaine was 24 mm (100 mm maximum) higher than that for proparacaine (p < 0.0002). Proparacaine lasted 1.3 minutes longer than tetracaine, 10.7 minutes versus 9.4 minutes (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Proparacaine eye drops cause less pain than tetracaine eye drops upon instillation.

How often can you use Proparacaine?

Are Visine eye drops bad?

Yes, too much visine is bad for your eyes. So you should not use it too much. As we know that visine is an ocular decongestant , which is used to get the red out by constricting the blood vessels in the conjunctiva. Then the problem is that with chronic use, you can get rebound redness.

What are Retaine eye drops?

Retaine CMC Lubricant Eye Drops. Relieves dryness of the eye. Temporarily relieves discomfort due to minor irritations of the eye or from exposure to wind or sun. As a protectant against further irritation.

What is generic eye drops?

Olopatadine is a prescription drug. It comes in the form of an ophthalmic solution (eye drops). Olopatadine is available as the brand-name drugs Pazeo, Patanol, and Pataday. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name versions.

What is Phenylephrine eye drops?

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels. Phenylephrine ophthalmic (for the eyes) is used to relieve eye redness, dryness, burning, and irritation caused by wind, sun, and other irritants.