EFFECT OF ANESTHESIA DURATION ON INTRAVITREAL INJECTION PAIN

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of different durations of topical anesthesia on intravitreal injection (IVI) pain. Methods: This was a double-blinded, randomized, comparative study. Three hundred and twelve sequential eyes undergoing IVI were randomized to one of six groups according to the duration of topical anesthesia (from 1 to 30 minutes, one group for every 5-minute range, Groups 1–6). Topical anesthesia before IVI was standardized. Patients graded their pain using the visual analog scale and the Wong–Baker FACES scale at 15 minutes after the procedure. Results: The pain scores among the six groups were significantly different for the visual analog scale (P = 0.013) and Wong–Baker FACES scale (P = 0.024). The mean pain scores for Group 4 were 1.97 ± 1.04 (visual analog scale) and 2.02 ± 1.08 (Wong–Baker FACES scale) and were significantly lower than those of Group 1, 2, 5, or 6. Conclusion: The duration of topical anesthesia significantly correlated with IVI pain. Preoperative 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride drops were most effective in relieving IVI pain 11 to 20 minutes after topical administration.