This study of 20 patients undergoing elective cataract surgery was per
formed to investigate the change in intraocular pressure that accompan
ies extraconal peribulbar anaesthesia. We have demonstrated that each
injection during peribulbar anaesthesia causes a small rise in intraoc
ular pressure. The routine use of conventional external ocular compres
sion overcomes this pressure rise and safely provides a satisfactory a
nd progressive reduction in intraocular pressure prior to surgery. Our
findings suggest that the volumes of anaesthetic solutions used in fr
actional peribulbar anaesthesia, if used in conjunction with external
compression devices, result in intraocular pressures acceptable for in
traocular surgery.