COMPARISON OF PERIBULBAR AND TOPICAL ANESTHESIA IN MODERN CATARACT SURGERY

Dr. Surbhi Gupta and Dr. Akhil Gupta*

ABSTRACT

Background: Topical anesthesia for phacoemulsification is not new. The advantages of topical anesthesia are known, like: ease of application, minimal discomfort, rapid onset, rapid visual recovery and reduction of risks associated with retrobulbar or peribulbar injection, but not validated by many studies, therefore, this study was planned to compare the efficacy of topical anesthesia with peribulbar anesthesia in phacoemulsification. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective comparative randomized study conducted in Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Jammu, during the period: January 2015 to June 2015, on 100 patients, with age 40 years and above, assigned to either two groups: peribulbar group (group 1) and topical group (group 2). All patients of senile cataract, undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation, were included. Results: Demographic characteristics and backgrounds of the Patients in both the groups were comparable and similar. 50% patients in group 1 and 42% in group 2 did not feel any pain. Only 1 patient of periocular and 3 (6%) patients of topical anesthesia group had severe pain. Mean for analgesia in both the groups was comparable and similar. No significant difference in duration of surgery was noted. Mean value for akinesia in group 1 was 0.68 ± 0.61, and the mean for akinesia in group 2 was 2.30 ± 0.64, which was significantly higher, or a disadvantage, but with good patient selection, proper counseling and patient cooperation this problem can be avoided. Conclusion: Topical anesthesia can replace the other methods of anesthesia in cataract surgery.

Keywords: Phacoemulsification, Topical Anesthesia, Peribulbar Anesthesia, Analgesia, Akinesia.