Which local anesthetic is used on the eyes and provides immediate results?

• A. Proparacaine
• B. Tetracaine
• C. Lidocaine
• D. Bupivacaine

Answer: (B)

Eye surface anesthesia relies on topical agents that rapidly diffuse across the corneal epithelium to numb the cornea and conjunctiva for quick procedures. Tetracaine, used as a 0.5% ophthalmic solution, provides immediate numbness of the ocular surface, making it ideal when you need fast, reliable results. Its potency yields rapid anesthesia that is sufficient to finish many minor eye procedures in one go. Proparacaine also provides fast onset but is generally considered slightly less potent than tetracaine, while lidocaine and bupivacaine are not the go-to choices for topical surface anesthesia of the eye—lidocaine is more often used for injections or blocks, and bupivacaine has a longer duration with a higher risk profile for ocular surface use.