How to make fluorescein strips.

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.

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.

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)

Figure 1

Dip the long edge of the filter paper rectangle in the fluorescein solution

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)

Figure 2

Cut the paper into strips with the dipped edge at one end

Store the strips in a sterile, sealed container (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Store the strips in a sterile, sealed container