Related Experiment Videos
Temporary conduction block of optic nerve after retrobulbar anesthesia
1Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Ophthalmic Surgery
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Temporary visual loss after retrobulbar anesthesia may be linked to changes in visual evoked potentials (VEPs). This study reports abnormal VEPs in patients receiving lidocaine for anesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Retrobulbar anesthesia is a common procedure for ophthalmic surgeries.
- Lidocaine is frequently used as the local anesthetic agent.
Observation:
- Three patients undergoing retrobulbar anesthesia with 2% lidocaine experienced transient visual loss.
- This visual disturbance occurred shortly after the anesthetic injection.
Findings:
- Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were measured in the affected patients.
- VEPs demonstrated a consistent pattern of increased latency and decreased amplitude.
- These abnormal VEP findings in humans following retrobulbar anesthesia are novel.
Implications:
- The observed VEP changes may indicate a temporary disruption of the visual pathway.
- Understanding these neurophysiological effects is crucial for patient safety and anesthetic protocols.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind lidocaine-induced visual disturbances.