CATARACT SURGERY

IS TOPICAL ANESTHESIA FOR ALL IS A FUTURE IN CATARACT SURGERY? A COMPARISON BETWEEN TOPICAL & RETROBULBAR ANESTHESIA IN TERMS OF PAIN DURING CATARACT SURGERY

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of topical and retobulbar anesthesia
in term of pain relief in patients subjected to cataract surgery. Material and methods: This
comparative study was conducted at Department of Ophthalmology, Bahawal Victoria Hospital
Bahawalpur from 18th July, 2012 to 18th January, 2013. Total 100 patients with cataract were
included in this study. Results: Mean age of the patient was 64.14 ± 8.7 years. No. of patients
in RA group who reported the pain scores (0- 4) during cataract surgery, was 46 (effectiveness
was positive in 92% patients), while it was 33 (effectiveness was positive in 66% patients) in TA
group. A significant difference between effectiveness of both anesthetic group was observed. (P
= 0.001). Conclusion: It is observed that topical anesthesia in cataract surgery is a simple, safe
and noninvasive technique but it cannot be proposed as a very good alternative to retrobulbar
anesthesia in cataract surgery of all patients regarding its effectiveness interms of pain relief.