N. Anders et al., Clinical and electrophysiologic results after intracameral lidocaine 1% anesthesia - A prospective randomized study, OPHTHALMOL, 106(10), 1999, pp. 1863-1868
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intracameral lidocaine in
cataract surgery compared to peribulbar anesthesia.
Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled study.
Participants: A total of 200 consecutive cataract patients (200 eyes) parti
cipated.
Intervention: Eyes were randomly assigned to two groups: one group received
0.15 ml intracameral 1% unpreserved lidocaine combined with topical anesth
esia (oxybuprocaine); the other group received 6 ml prilocaine peribulbar b
efore phacoemulsification with sclerocorneal tunnel incision.
Main Outcome Measures: Duration of surgery was measured; implicit time and
amplitudes of the b-waves of the photopic electroretinogram (ERG) potential
s (single-flash ERG and the 30-Hz flicker ERG) were recorded; frequencies o
f intraoperative problems, complications, intraoperative, and postoperative
pain were evaluated.
Results: After lidocaine anesthesia combined with topical anesthesia, simil
ar complications were found, longer operation time (P < 0.001), and signifi
cantly better visual acuity immediately after surgery (P < 0.001). The ERG
amplitudes were not significantly reduced after 0.15-ml intracameral lidoca
ine half an hour after surgery (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Intracameral lidocaine 1% combined with topical anesthesia can
be recommended as an alternative procedure to peribulbar anesthesia in cata
ract surgery with corneoscleral tunnel incision.