Fluorescein strips are an essential diagnostic tool in eye care. They are useful for performing a number of procedures, such as measuring intraocular pressure, assessing dry eye and detecting corneal abrasions. Unfortunately, this basic item is not commonly available in many resource-limited settings. Here we describe how we make fluorescein strips at Mbarara University and Regional Referral Hospital Eye Centre.
What you will need
Sterile filter paper (e.g., Whatman no. 1)
A sterile bowl, such as a kidney dish
Fluorescein sodium powder (20 g)
Distilled sterile water (100 ml)
A pair of scissors
Empty injectable vials or any other small, sealed containers
A sterile surface
Sterile gloves, mask and apron.
Procedure
Assemble all the materials on a clean tray
Put on sterile gloves, mask and apron
Prepare a 20% fluorescein solution by dissolving 20 g of fluorescein sodium powder in 100 ml distilled, sterile water
Cut the filter paper into rectangles of approximately 5 cm wide and 8–10 cm long
Pour a small amount of fluorescein solution into the bowl. Be careful not to spill, as fluorescein leaves stains
Dip the long edge of the filter paper in the fluorescein solution and immediately remove it, as the solution spreads very quickly through the paper (Figure 1)
Place the dipped filter papers onto a sterile surface to dry
Once they are dry, use a pair of scissors to cut the paper into strips, with the dipped edge at one end (Figure 2)
Store the strips in a sterile, sealed container (Figure 3).
Figure 1.
Dip the long edge of the filter paper rectangle in the fluorescein solution
Figure 2.
Cut the paper into strips with the dipped edge at one end
Figure 3.
Store the strips in a sterile, sealed container