A comparison of topical anaesthesia with placebo for the managment of minor corneal trauma.

This study is testing whether numbing eye drops (local anaesthetic drops) can safely relieve pain caused by common eye injuries. Eye injuries such as corneal scratches, foreign bodies in the eye, and "arc eye" from welding flash can be very painful. At the moment, these drops are generally not given for patients to take home, but this study aims to find out if they are safe and effective to use for pain relief at home. You may be eligible if: - You are 18 years of age or older - You have a corneal scratch with a clear history of injury, a scratch caused by a foreign body in the eye, or arc eye from welding You may NOT be eligible if: - It has been 36 hours or more since your eye injury - You are under 18 years of age - You have had a bad reaction to local anaesthetic or any eye drops in the past - You have another eye condition affecting your vision - You wear contact lenses - You are currently pregnant or breastfeeding - You have an eye infection - You only have sight in one eye - You need to see an eye specialist Talk to your doctor about whether this trial might be right for you.