Which ED procedure uses fluorescein staining to evaluate the eye?

• A. Slit Lamp Exam
• B. Lumbar Puncture
• C. Central Line
• D. Fluorescein Stain/Woods Lamp Exam

Answer: (D)

Fluorescein staining with blue light is used to detect corneal surface injuries. The fluorescein dye sticks to areas where the corneal epithelium is disrupted, and when illuminated with cobalt blue light (Wood’s lamp or a blue-filtered slit lamp), those damaged areas glow bright green. This makes it easy to identify corneal abrasions, ulcers, or foreign bodies that might not be obvious on routine inspection. In the ED, this quick test is a go-to way to evaluate eye trauma and guide treatment, such as deciding if antibiotic prophylaxis or further ophthalmology follow-up is needed. The other options involve different procedures (a slit lamp exam is a detailed eye exam that may use fluorescein but isn’t defined by staining with Wood’s lamp; lumbar puncture and central line are unrelated to eye evaluation).