Extracapsular cataract extraction under local anaesthesia without retrobulbar injection.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anesthesia

Background:

• Day-case cataract surgery and local anesthesia use are increasing.
• Retrobulbar and peribulbar injections, common for cataract surgery anesthesia, carry risks of serious complications.
• Subconjunctival injection presents a potential alternative to mitigate these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the safety and efficacy of subconjunctival injection versus retrobulbar injection for local anesthesia in extracapsular cataract surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study comparing two groups of patients undergoing extracapsular cataract surgery.
• Group 1: Uncomplicated retrobulbar injection with bupivacaine and hyaluronidase.
• Group 2: Superior bulbar subconjunctival infiltration with bupivacaine and hyaluronidase.

Main Results:

• Operative complications were similar between the retrobulbar and subconjunctival groups.
• Postoperative visual outcomes were comparable in both groups.
• No statistically significant differences in adverse events were noted.

Conclusions:

• Subconjunctival infiltration is a viable alternative to retrobulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery.
• The technique demonstrates comparable safety and efficacy to retrobulbar injection.
• Further investigation and adoption of subconjunctival anesthesia are encouraged.