A study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of subtenon (parabulbar) anesthesia in cataract surgery

Background: To study the safety and efficacy of sub tenon (parabulbar) anaesthesia by blunt 23-gauge cannula in cataract surgery. Method: A Prospective study of sub tenon anaesthesia, 30 patients were examined for sub tenon (parabulbar) anaesthesia for cataract surgery. One single surgeon has evaluated some parameters like pupil dilation preoperative and during operation, intraocular pressure before anaesthesia, just after anaesthesia and 2 minutes after anaesthesia. Akinesia, anaesthesia, subconjunctival hemorrhage and preoperative complication has been recorded. Results: In our study mean IOP measured before anaesthesia was 16.58. means IOP just after anaesthesia was 11.2 and after 2 minutes was 6.2. 83.22% patients were painless and 16.66% complained of mild pain during operative procedure after anaesthesia. No patient was having total akinesia just after the anaesthetic injection and after the surgical procedure 60.67% had moderate movement. Chemosis was the frequent side effect with sub tenon anaesthesia. 60% patients had chemosis in one quadrant. Only 13.3% patients had subconjunctival hemorrhage. Conclusion: Sub tenon anaesthesia is considered to be a safe technique. Also, it is more comfortable for patients. Sub tenon (parabulbar) anaesthesia is quick, safe and effective method of anaesthesia.