Lidocaine-Assisted Xylocaine Jelly Anesthesia versus one Quadrant Sub-Tenon Infiltration for Self-Sealing Sclerocorneal Incision Routine Phacoemulsification

Abstract

Purpose To compare the effect of Xylocaine jelly and intracameral lidocaine with one quadrant instant sub-Tenon infiltration for self-sealing sclerocorneal phacoemulsification. METHODS One hundred patients were enrolled into a prospective randomized study, receiving either a combination of topical 2% Xylocaine jelly and 0.5 ml of intracameral 1% lidocaine or sub-Tenon infiltration with 2 ml of 2% Xylocaine on the operating table. All patients underwent a standard divide and conquer phacoemulsification procedure through a superior sclerocorneal frown incision followed by implantation of a polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens. Intraoperative pain was indicated by the patient by squeezing the bedside nurse's hand, who allocated it to particular stages of surgery on a chart. After surgery, patients assessed the pain experienced using a 10-unit visual analogue scale. Results Pain was indicated on 31 occasions during the operation in the sub-Tenon group (mainly the injection itself) and 67 times in the topical group. The median overall subjective pain score was 3 in the jelly group and 0 in the sub-Tenon. Five eyes (10%) had to be converted to sub-Tenon during the surgery because of intolerable pain. CONCLUSIONS Whereas lidocaine supported Xylocaine jelly anesthesia provided acceptable analgesia for 90% of patients operated, sub-Tenon anesthesia proved to deliver better intraoperative comfort in all patients receiving sclerocorneal incision cataract surgery.