A brief experience of blindness

Preparation Explain the procedure and advise the • patient that it will cause some very brief discomfort The patient, helper, and examiner • should be positioned appropriately. The helper can hold the torch (Figure 1). Method Instil the local anaesthetic eye drops • Using magnification, identify the • eyelashes which need epilating (Figure 2) For lower eyelashes: ask the patient to look up, • fix his/her gaze, and keep still with an index finger, gently hold • down the lower eyelid For upper eyelashes: ask the patient to look down, • fix his/her gaze, and keep still with a thumb, gently ease the • upper eyelid up against the orbital rim