During healing, what is the prescribed frequency for PFATs (preservative-free artificial tears) in the chemical burn case?

• A. 2x per day
• B. 6-8x per day
• C. 10x per day
• D. Once per hour

Answer: (B)

In healing after a chemical burn, keeping the ocular surface continuously lubricated is crucial to support epithelial recovery and reduce friction from blinking. Using preservative-free artificial tears ensures you don’t introduce toxic preservatives to already damaged tissue. The goal is to maintain moisture throughout the waking day with a practical, consistent dosing schedule. About every two hours during awake hours—roughly six to eight applications per day—provides steady lubrication, helps dilute residual irritants, and supports healing without being overly burdensome. Dosing only a few times a day risks drying and delays healing, while hourly dosing is usually more frequent than necessary for the typical healing trajectory and can be impractical. Ten times daily is more than needed for most cases. So, six to eight times per day best fits the healing needs.