A modified Gills' block and its effectiveness for lid muscle akinesia

We developed a prospective clinical study to determine the effectiveness of a new method of retrobulbar anesthesia and akinesia of the levator and orbicularis muscles. This study involved 50 patients who underwent extracapsular cataract extractions (ECCE) with intraocular lens implant (IOL). We found levator and orbicularis muscle akinesia was achieved in 49 of 50 eyes. One reblock was necessary. We also wish to point out the advantages of this technique as a means of reducing the rare but serious complications associated with retrobulbar anesthesia.