The Equine Eye Clinic

Cut lavage tube close to eye (leave 25-50mm).

Apply topical local anaesthetic to the ocular surface (6 applications, 10 secs apart).

Apply ocular lubricant to cornea (e.g. Hyaluronate or carbomer gel).

Clean the external piece of lavage tubing with sterile saline or dilute iodine prior to removal.

Gently push the external piece of the lavage tube towards the eye, walking the tube from finger to finger.

Prolapse 3rd eye lid – lavage kit end can usually be either grasped with forceps or more usually manipulated manually.

Lavage end can very rarely become buried in conjunctiva if left in for several weeks necessitating dissection to remove.

NB De-pigmentation can be seen at the site of tube exit and some lid swelling is not uncommon in the first 24hours post removal.