Effect of retrobulbar injection of lidocaine on saccadic velocities

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 350 - 356
• Main Authors: Irving, Elizabeth L, Arshinoff, Steve A, Samis, William, Lillakas, Linda, Lui, Byron, Laporte, Janet Taylor, Steinbach, Martin J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia, Local - methods; Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase - administration & dosage; Injections; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Lidocaine - administration & dosage; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oculomotor Muscles - drug effects; Orbit; Phacoemulsification; Saccades - physiology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Treatment; Surgery; Organic amide; Injection; Ophthalmology; Lidocaine; Retrobulbar; Velocity
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1016/S0886-3350(03)00613-8

Purpose: To determine whether exposing the extraocular muscles (EOMs) to lidocaine via retrobulbar injection for cataract surgery has a demonstrable negative effect on subsequent function of the muscle. Setting: York Finch Eye Associates, Humber River Regional Hospital, and Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Methods: This study comprised 37 eyes that had phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation; 13 eyes had retrobulbar lidocaine with hyaluronidase and 24 eyes, topical anesthesia. The postoperative saccadic velocities were compared with the preoperative velocities using a sensitive recording device. The results were compared within and between the retrobulbar lidocaine and topical anesthesia groups. Results: No detectable decrement in postoperative saccadic velocities was detected in any patient, and no difference was found between the groups. Conclusions: Exposing EOMs to lidocaine for cataract surgery had no detectable negative effect on saccadic velocities 1 week after surgery.