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Fluorescein staining

Eye Care estimated about CNY 50-120

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Description

A diagnostic ophthalmic procedure using sodium fluorescein dye to detect corneal epithelial defects, abrasions, or ulcers under cobalt-blue light illumination.

Main Uses

Corneal fluorescein staining is primarily used to detect and assess the severity, location, and pattern of corneal epithelial defects. Key clinical applications include: evaluating tear film stability and ocular surface health in dry eye syndrome; diagnosing corneal injuries (abrasions, foreign body removal sites); monitoring healing after refractive surgery (e.g., LASIK, SMILE); identifying infectious or inflammatory keratopathies (e.g., dendritic ulcers in herpes simplex); and assessing neurotrophic or exposure-related epithelial breakdown.

Normal Range

No staining (i.e., negative result) is normal: intact corneal epithelium shows no uptake of sodium fluorescein dye under cobalt-blue light. A normal test reveals a smooth, continuous, non-fluorescent corneal surface with no punctate, dendritic, geographic, or diffuse staining patterns.

Low Values - Possible Causes

Low or absent staining is not clinically pathological—it reflects epithelial integrity. However, 'low staining' in practice may indicate: (1) inadequate dye application or rinsing; (2) insufficient cobalt-blue illumination or improper filter use; (3) examiner error (e.g., misinterpretation of subtle early defects); (4) overly rapid tear turnover washing away dye before observation; (5) use of outdated or degraded fluorescein strips/solution.

High Values - Possible Causes

Abnormal (positive) staining indicates epithelial disruption and includes: (1) dry eye disease (aqueous-deficient or evaporative); (2) corneal abrasion or trauma; (3) infectious keratitis (bacterial, viral e.g., HSV dendritic ulcers, fungal); (4) neurotrophic keratopathy; (5) exposure keratopathy (e.g., lagophthalmos, facial nerve palsy).

corneal fluorescein staining ocular surface assessment corneal epithelial defect

estimated about CNY 50-120