METHODS OF ALLEVIATING SYMPTOMS OF OCULAR SURFACE DISCOMFORT USING MEDICAL ICE SLURRY
Disclosed herein is a method of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort, the method comprising: topically applying a cold slurry adjacent to a corneal limbus of an eye of a patient, wherein the cold slurry comprises water and a freezing point depressant, wherein the topical application of the cold slurry is configured to cause a degree of numbing of a cornea of the eye for a period of time, and wherein an ocular sensation of the eye is restored following the period of time.
1 . A method of causing hypesthesia of an eye of a subject, the method comprising:
applying a cold slurry comprising water and a freezing point depressant to the eye of the subject,
wherein the application of the cold slurry causes hypesthesia of the eye for a period of time of more than about two days, and an ocular sensation of the eye is restored following the period of time.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cold slurry is applied to a surface of the eye.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the cold slurry does not directly contact the surface of the eye.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the cold slurry contacts a barrier between the cold slurry and the surface of the eye.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the barrier comprises a thermally conductive metal, a thermally conductive polymer, or a combination thereof.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the cold slurry is contained within a device.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the device comprises a barrier that prevents the cold slurry from directly contacting the surface of the eye.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the barrier comprises a thermally conductive metal, a thermally conductive polymer, or a combination thereof.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the device is configured to allow the cold slurry to be applied to one or more targeted portions of the surface of the eye.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more targeted portions of the surface of the eye comprises a bulbar conjunctiva/sclera.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cold slurry is applied posterior to the corneal limbus.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ocular sensation of the eye is restored after about 21 days following the application of the cold slurry.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cold slurry is applied to the eye for between about 5 minutes and about 15 minutes.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a protective covering over a cornea of the eye prior to the application of the cold slurry.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the protective covering is a contact lens.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cold slurry is applied to the eye in more than one application.
17 . A method of alleviating ocular surface discomfort, the method comprising:
applying a cold slurry comprising water and a freezing point depressant to an eye of a subject,
wherein the application of the cold slurry causes numbing of the eye for a period of time of more than about two days, and an ocular sensation of the eye is restored following the period of time.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cold slurry is applied to a surface of the eye.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the cold slurry does not directly contact the surface of the eye.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the cold slurry contacts a barrier between the cold slurry and the surface of the eye and the barrier comprises a thermally conductive metal, a thermally conductive polymer, or a combination thereof.
21 - 29 . (canceled)