Oculocardiac reflex in sedated patients having laser in situ keratomileusis
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Updated: Oct 19, 2026
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Published on: August 14, 2013
Purpose:
To eliminate stress as a variable in assessing the frequency of the oculocardiac reflex during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Setting:
Merida Ophthalmological Hospital and Oftalmedica, Mexico City, Mexico.
Methods:
A pulse oximeter registered the heart rate of 30 sedated patients having LASIK. Sedation was accomplished with a combination of midazolam and fentanyl. The heart rate was noted before and during suction. The results in 1 eye of each patient were recorded. Oculocardiac reflex was defined as a decrease of 10% or more of the basal heart rate.
Results:
Fourteen patients (46.7%) had a 10% or more decrease in heart rate when suction was applied. Ten of the 14 had a decrease in heart rate between 10% and 19%, 3 between 20% and 29%, and 1 of more than 30%. Two patients (6.6%) had an increase in the basal heart rate of more than 10%.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that the oculocardiac reflex occurs more frequently in sedated patients than in nonsedated patients.
