Satisfaction level with topical versus peribulbar anesthesia experienced by same patient for phacoemulsification

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anesthesia
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Patient satisfaction with anesthesia for cataract surgery varies.
• Conflicting results exist regarding topical versus peribulbar anesthesia.
• This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction within the same individual.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient satisfaction levels between topical and peribulbar anesthesia in the same patient.
• To identify indicators for selecting appropriate anesthesia for cataract surgery.
• To provide evidence for optimizing anesthetic techniques in ophthalmic procedures.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, randomized, double-blind study of 80 patients undergoing phacoemulsification.
• Each patient received both topical and peribulbar anesthesia in separate eyes.
• Pain, discomfort, and satisfaction (Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Lower pain, pressure, and discomfort scores during topical anesthesia application.
• Significantly higher intraoperative pain and discomfort scores with topical anesthesia.
• Peribulbar anesthesia resulted in significantly higher overall patient satisfaction (P=0.000).

Conclusions:

• Peribulbar anesthesia provides superior patient satisfaction compared to topical anesthesia for cataract surgery.
• Topical anesthesia leads to greater intraoperative discomfort.
• Peribulbar anesthesia is recommended for enhanced patient comfort and satisfaction.