Examples include benzocaine, butamben, dibucaine, lidocaine, oxybuprocaine, pramoxine, proxymetacaine (proparacaine), and tetracaine (also named amethocaine).
Topical anesthetics are sometimes abused for temporary relief of premature ejaculation when applied to the glans (head) of the penis.
When used excessively, topical anesthetics can cause severe and irreversible damage to corneal tissues[5][6][7][8][9] and even loss of the eye.
[5][10][11] Because of the potential for abuse, clinicians have been warned about the possibility of theft and advised against prescribing topical anesthetics for therapeutic purposes.
In case of prolonged or chronic eye pain, especially neuropathic eye pain, it is highly advisable to use centrally acting substances like anticonvulsants (pregabalin, gabapentin and in more serious cases carbamazepine) or antidepressants (for example SSRIs or the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline).