COMPARISON OF TOPICAL ANESTHESIA WITH PERIBULBAR ANESTHESIA SMALL INCISION CATARACT SURGERY

AIM: To compare efficacy and safety in terms of pain, surgical complications and visual outcome of topical anesthesia with peribulbar anesthesia in manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation.DESIGN: Prospective Clinical Study.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 280 cataract patients underwent MSICS with PCIOL.140 patients received peribulbar anesthesia and 140 patients received topical anesthesia.The two groups were compared regarding efficacy and safety in terms of pain, surgical complications and visual outcome.RESULTS: We observed that mean pain during administration of peribulbar anesthesia was 3.57 (SD ± 1.49) and with topical anesthesia was 2.32 (SD ± 1.19).The mean pain during surgery with peribulbar anesthesia was 1.87 (SD ± 1.40) and with topical anesthesia was 2.24 (SD ± 1.13).Chemosis and subconjunctival hemorrhage were not seen with topical anesthesia whereas akinesia is mainly a problem with topical anesthesia.CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that topical anesthesia is comparable to peribulbar anesthesia and is recommended as a safe and effective alternative to peribulbar anesthesia for manual small incision cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.