New ACEP Guideline – Topical Anesthetics for Corneal Abrasion
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The ACEP consensus seems to indicate that it may be safe for patients with a simple corneal abrasion to go home with 24 hour usage of topical anesthetics for pain relief, but the ophthalmologists are not on board.
Can Emergency Physicians Do Lateral Canthotomy?
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This retrospective study showed that EM providers are equipped to perform lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (C&C) in cases of orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) with success rates comparable to ophthalmologists.
Source
Success rates of lateral canthotomy and cantholysis for treatment of orbital compartment syndrome. Am J Emerg Med. 2023 Jun 1;70:140-143. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.05.037. Epub ahead of print.
How Much Do You Know About Orbital Cellulitis?
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Orbital cellulitis is a high-risk and low-prevalence disease characterized by a painful, red eye, usually with eyelid erythema. Red flags include pain with eye movements, photophobia, diplopia, decreased visual acuity, decreased color vision, and proptosis.
Source
High risk and low prevalence diseases: Orbital cellulitis. Am J Emerg Med. 2023 Jun;68:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.02.024. Epub 2023 Feb 26.
First, Let Me Take a Selfie…and Make a Diagnosis of Corneal Abrasion?
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A smartphone app was developed to provide cobalt blue lighting in selfie mode to diagnose corneal injuries. See images below!
Quality Versus Comfort: Does Tegaderm Get in the Way of Ocular Ultrasound?
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Using Tegaderm™ during ocular ultrasound was associated with poorer image quality and had no effect on patient comfort. If you’re using ocular ultrasound as a modality, consider if using a Tegaderm™ will get in the way of a good diagnosis.
Source
Covered or uncovered: A randomized control trial of Tegaderm versus no Tegaderm for ocular ultrasound. Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Aug 28;61:87-89. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.08.044. Online ahead of print.
How to Distinguish Bacterial vs. Viral Conjunctivitis
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The presence of certain clinical findings can help clinicians gauge the likelihood of bacterial versus viral conjunctivitis, although data are limited.