Tag: Diagnostic dye

According to the National Institutes of Health, fluorescein is a diagnostic contrast agent used in various ophthalmic procedures, not an anesthetic. The common misconception that **is fluorescein an anesthetic** arises because it is almost always administered with a numbing agent to ensure patient comfort during examinations.

Fluorescein is a diagnostic dye used in countless ophthalmic procedures to detect issues like corneal abrasions [1.2.1]. Contrary to a common belief, the answer to 'Does fluorescein numb the eye?' is no; the numbing effect comes from a separate anesthetic drop used alongside it [1.2.5].

First used as an ancient dye, indigo's medicinal applications vary significantly depending on its source and composition. When asking, 'What is the drug indigo?', it's crucial to distinguish between the synthetic diagnostic dye, indigotindisulfonate sodium, and the traditional herbal medicine, indigo naturalis.