Local Anesthetics in Diabetic Retinopathy Procedures: A Comprehensive Review With a Focus on Lidocaine-Based Pain...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) management involves various procedures requiring effective local anesthesia.
• Optimizing pain control and procedural outcomes is crucial for patient well-being in DR treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review local anesthetic agents and administration methods for diabetic retinopathy procedures.
• To evaluate the efficacy of anesthetics in pain management and procedural success for DR.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of PubMed for studies on local anesthetics in DR procedures.
• Inclusion criteria focused on relevance, full-text availability, and methodological rigor.
• Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools assessed study quality and bias.

Main Results:

• Lidocaine was the most common anesthetic, showing significant efficacy in pain and systolic pressure reduction during pan-retinal photocoagulation and vitrectomy.
• Topical lidocaine application was favored for ease of use and reduced complication risks.
• Povidone was frequently co-administered for antisepsis during intravitreal injections, lowering infection risk.

Conclusions:

• Lidocaine, particularly topical, demonstrates effective analgesia and favorable outcomes in DR procedures.
• Lidocaine is a suitable anesthetic choice for managing diabetic retinopathy.
• Further research should explore lidocaine's impact, patient history considerations, and co-administered drugs for optimized DR care.