Pain Associated With a Subconjunctival Cefazolin-Lidocaine Mixture in Retinal Surgery:A Randomized Control Trial

The purpose of this randomized, single-masked clinical trial is to explore whether cefazolin mixed with 2% lidocaine can reduce pain.

Patients naïve to ophthalmic surgery were randomized to subconjunctival injection of either a 0.5 mL cefazolin-balanced salt solution (0.3 mL cefazolin and 0.2 mL balanced salt solution) or 0.5 mL cefazolin-lidocaine solution (0.3 mL cefazolin and 0.2 mL 2% lidocaine) during retinal surgery with a retrobulbar block. Pain scores were obtained at the start of surgery, middle of surgery, before and after cefazolin administration, and postoperatively.

A total of 54 patients were recruited; 44.6% were male, and the mean age was 60.1 years ± 13.5 years. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups' operative characteristics or pain scores at each study time point.

In pars plana vitrectomy with or without phacoemulsification and intraocular lens insertion, subconjunctival cefazolin mixed with lidocaine conferred no added analgesic benefit. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:881-886.].