AN UNUSUAL OCULAR COMPLICATION FOLLOWING INTRAORAL LOCAL ANASTHESIA – A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Intraoral administration of local anesthetics is one of the most common dental procedures. Although this procedure is well known for its safety, complications can still occur. Ocular complications due to intraoral local anesthesia are rare but most distressing to the surgeon and patient. Ocular complications after local anesthetic injections are rarely reported in the literature and these complications include strabismus, ptosis, diplopia, blindness, ophthalmoplegia, loss of accommodation. A 50 year-old male patient developed transient diplopia and ipsilateral lateral rectus muscle paralysis following administration of local anesthesia for left maxillary third molar extraction. The patient was informed and proper instructions were given regarding the complications. Most of ocular complications are temporary; They can revert back to normalcy after anesthetic affect wears off. Complete resolution occurred within 2 h. Oral surgeons should be well aware of the ocular complications and its prevention and immediate management.