Normocapnic anaesthesia with enflurane for intraocular surgery

The intraocular pressure was measured by applanation tonometry in 13 patients undergoing lens extraction with normocapnic anaesthesia with 1% enflurane and controlled ventilation of the lungs with large tidal volumes (13 ml/kg). The intraocular pressure was consistently reduced by about 35% and was associated with a similar reduction in systolic arterial pressure. Provided care is taken with those patients with hypertension or heart disease who might become hypotensive, the technique is suitable for lens extraction surgery especially where it is desirable to avoid the administration of halothane.