Clinical and electrophysiologic results after intracameral lidocaine 1% anesthesia - A prospective randomized study

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.