Fluorescein Eye Stain
An orange dye and a blue light that show scratches and dry spots on the front of the eye. Quick, and it does not hurt.
- Senior Consultant Eye Surgeons
- 50+ combined years in ophthalmology
- Seven clinics in six locations islandwide
Camden (Orchard)Joo ChiatClementiBedokToa PayohJurong
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What a fluorescein eye stain is
A fluorescein eye stain uses an orange dye and a blue light to show the surface of the eye.
The dye coats the cornea, the clear front of the eye, and collects wherever the surface is scratched or dry. Under a blue light those spots glow yellow-green.
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Ordinary light: a scratch is hard to see
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Blue light: the dye makes it glow
How a fluorescein eye stain is done
A minute or two, at the slit lamp.
- Contact lenses come out first.
- A paper strip with the dye is touched to the inside of your lower lid, or a drop is used.
- You blink a few times to spread it over the eye.
- The eye is looked at under a blue light, usually at the slit lamp.
The dye may sting for a moment. Nothing else touches the eye.
What the stain shows
The surface of the eye, which ordinary light shows poorly.
- Scratches on the cornea, often after something has caught the eye.
- Something still in the eye, such as a speck of grit.
- Dry spots, where the surface is not kept wet.
- How long the tear film lasts before it breaks up, counted after a blink.
What a finding means is for your eye doctor to explain.
After the stain
The colour washes out with your tears.
- Your tears may look yellow for a while, and can mark a tissue or clothing.
- Leave soft contact lenses out until your tears run clear, usually within an hour.
- You can usually drive afterwards. The dye does not blur vision or widen the pupil.
Eye sore, watery or gritty? Tell our friendly staff what you have noticed and they will arrange the right appointment.
Not the same as fluorescein angiography
The two share a dye and a name, but they are different tests.
Fluorescein angiography injects the dye into a vein and photographs the blood vessels at the back of the eye. A fluorescein eye stain is a drop on the surface only.
Fluorescein Eye Stain Cost in Singapore
A fluorescein eye stain is done during an eye consultation, as required. These are our consultation fees, with an eye specialist or a Primary Eye Care Doctor.
| Consultation | Price |
|---|---|
| With a Senior Eye Specialist · Camden (Orchard) and Parkway East (Joo Chiat) | |
| First consultation | $174.40 |
| Follow-up consultation | $119.90 |
| With a Senior Eye Specialist · Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong | |
| First consultation | $130.80 |
| Follow-up consultation | $98.10 |
| With a Primary Eye Care Doctor · Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong | |
| First consultation | $76.30 |
| Follow-up consultation | $54.50 |
All fees shown are nett. Any tests you need are decided at your consultation.
The same dye is used with the contact method of the eye pressure test.
Common questions
Does a fluorescein eye stain hurt?
No. The dye may sting for a moment, and only a small paper strip touches the eye.
How long does the yellow colour last?
The dye washes out with your tears, usually within an hour. Until then your tears may look yellow and can mark a tissue or clothing.
Does fluorescein dilate your eyes?
No. It does not widen the pupil or blur your vision. Dilation uses different drops, covered under eye dilation.
Can I wear contact lenses after a fluorescein stain?
Leave them out until your tears run clear, usually within an hour. Soft lenses can take up the dye.
What are the yellow drops used in an eye pressure test?
Usually fluorescein, often with a numbing drop, used with the contact method of the eye pressure test so the probe can be seen against the cornea.
Is a fluorescein eye stain the same as fluorescein angiography?
No. Angiography uses the same dye injected into a vein, to photograph the blood vessels at the back of the eye. A fluorescein eye stain is a drop on the surface only.
How much is a fluorescein eye stain?
It is done during an eye consultation, as required. A first consultation is $174.40 nett at Camden and Parkway East, and $130.80 nett at our community clinics in Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong, where a first consultation with a Primary Eye Care Doctor is $76.30 nett.
Have your eye checked
Send us a message with what you have noticed and a time that suits, and our staff will arrange the appointment.
