Subtenons anaesthesia more comfortable for photophobics

Patients who report photophobia prior to phacoemulsification may be more comfortable under subtenon anaesthesia, according to Alexander Ioannidis and colleagues from the Mid-Essex Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.

Forty-nine patients were randomized to receive either 0.5 ml preservative free 1% intracameral lidocaine or 4 ml of 2% lidocaine subtenons anaesthesia. Each subject was assessed by slit-lamp with maximal pupillary dilation on the day of surgery. Eyes were exposed to 10 seconds of light from a broad beam and a visual analogue scale was used to assess pain and photophobia.

In the topical group, the average postoperative pain score was 1.00 and the average postoperative photophobia score was 1.18. In the subtenons group, the average pain score was 0.83 and the average photophobia score was 1.12.

It was concluded that subtenons anaesthesia may be more suitable for patients who experience photophobia preoperatively.