Does a numbing eye drop reduce pain during tear duct probing and irrigation?
Official title: Does Administration of Proparacaine Hydrochloride 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution Prior to Canalicular Probing and Irrigation Decrease Patient Discomfort?
Run by Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans · NCT05663684 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This test will see if putting a numbing drop (proparacaine 0.5%) into the eye before tear duct probing and irrigation makes the procedure less painful for adults with excessive tearing.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 4 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 145 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (New Orleans, Louisiana) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 30, 2020 |
| Main results expected | December 30, 2022 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2023 |
| Registry record updated | December 23, 2022 |
| Trial ID | NCT05663684 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) who present with epiphora requiring bilateral lower lid probing and irrigation at the enrolling LSU clinics, who can consent and have no allergy to proparacaine or prior nasolacrimal surgery/scarring, are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a known allergy to proparacaine, pre-existing nasolacrimal scarring/surgery or obstruction found on probing, cognitive impairment, or those requiring only unilateral procedures would not be expected to benefit from this comparison.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults aged 18 and older who present with excessive tearing and need bilateral lower eyelid probing and irrigation are enrolled at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Each participant has one eye randomized to receive a proparacaine 0.5% drop and the other eye a balanced salt solution drop, followed by standard probing and irrigation. Participants rate discomfort on a 1–5 scale after the procedure to compare pain between the anesthetic and control eyes. The study is a phase 4, within-subject randomized comparison with single-visit outcome measurement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, using a topical proparacaine drop could make probing and irrigation more comfortable for adults with tearing problems.
How similar studies have gone: Topical anesthetic use during canalicular probing is common in children, but this specific randomized within-subject comparison has not been formally tested in adults.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Exclusion Criteria: * 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's running
-
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Austin M Pharo, MD — LSU Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Austin M Pharo, MD
- Email: apharo@lsuhsc.edu
- Phone: (504) 568-3156
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops for Excessive Tearing in Adults
This trial tests whether a very dilute atropine eye drop can reduce tearing in adults with epiphora, using a paired, blind comparison to a placebo drop.
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My Eyes, My Light — community eye screening in Char Fasson
This project tests whether a community-based screening program can find treatable eye problems in people aged 35 and older who live in Char Fasson, Bangladesh.
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Absorbable drug-eluting lacrimal sac stent for recurrent chronic dacryocystitis
This study tests whether an absorbable, mometasone-coated lacrimal sac stent placed during a standard endoscopic procedure can help keep the tear duct open and reduce inflammation in people with recurrent chronic dacryocystitis.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.