Anesthesia for pediatric ocular surgery

Ophthalmic pathology in infants and children undergoing eye surgery ranges from the rare and atypical to the commonplace. These pathologies include nasolacrimal duct obstruction, strabismus, congenital or traumatically induced cataracts, penetrating eye injuries, glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity, intraorbital tumors, and more. Nasolacrimal duct stenosis, cataracts, and traumatic eye injuries often occur in otherwise healthy pediatric patients; however, many ophthalmopathies can be associated with other congenital disorders that may have important anesthesia implications. In this article, we will review pertinent anesthesia issues within the context of various ophthalmic diseases.