ArticleMiddle East African journal of ophthalmology
Topical ocular anesthetic abuse among Iranian welders: time for action.
Article in Middle East African journal of ophthalmology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Clinical presentations, complications, and outcomes of benoxinate topical ophthalmic anesthetic abuse: a retrospective cohort study.Journal of ophthalmic inflammation and infection · 2026Article
- Opium poisoning following self-medication of radiation-induced dermatitis with topical use of opium latex traditional extract; a teaching case.Clinical case reports · 2021Article
- Review
- Self-medication misuse in the Middle East: a systematic literature review.Pharmacology research & perspectives · 2017Review
- Observations on the Prevalence, Characteristics, and Effects of Self-Treatment.Frontiers in public health · 2016Review
- Care Seeking Patterns of STIs-Associated Symptoms in Iran: Findings of a Population-Based Survey.International journal of health policy and management · 2015Article
- Adverse Reactions from Topical Ophthalmic Anesthetic Abuse.Journal of ophthalmic & vision researchArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of topical ocular anesthetic abuse among welders in Iran and suggest public health solutions for this issue.
methodsIn this cross-sectional study, 390 welders were randomly recruited and queried on the use of anesthetic drops. A questionnaire was administered through structured one-on-one interviews conducted by the first author.
resultsA total of 314 welders (80.5%) declared that they had used topical anesthetics at least once during their working lives. Almost 90% of them stated a preference for self-treatment over seeking help from a physician due to cultural and financial reasons. The most commonly used topical anesthetic was tetracaine. Most of the subjects (97.4%) had obtained the drugs from pharmacies without a prescription.
conclusionsThe prevalence of topical ocular anesthetic abuse among welders in Iran is alarmingly high and may partially be due to cultural issues. Although most physicians are aware that topical anesthetics should only be used as a diagnostic tool, there is a crucial need to re-emphasize the ocular risks associated with chronic use of these medications. Educational programs for both physicians and the public are necessary to address the problem.
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Registered trials
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