[Anesthesia in glaucoma surgery]

Various types of anesthesia, as well as different surgical techniques are available in glaucoma surgery. This study's purpose is to review and update the different possibilities of anesthesia according to the various types of surgical procedures in glaucoma. The different types of anesthesia for glaucoma surgery are general anesthesia, local anesthesia or topical anesthesia. In children, general anesthesia has an absolute indication, whatever the surgical procedure to be used. In adults, literature demonstrates that local anesthesia (retrobulbar or peribulbar) is the most frequently used technique. There is a growing interest in topical anesthesia, which has brought many advantages, for glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy, deep sclerectomy, aqueous shunt surgery and combined procedures). Choice among the different modalities of anesthesia has to be done according to various parameters based on both patient and surgeon point of view. A close link between surgeon and anesthesiologist is of an utmost importance to ensure the most efficient, comfortable, and appropriate anesthesia for each individual patient.