Objective: To compare the efficacy of subtenon with peribulbar local anesthesia without hyaluronidase in patients undergoing cataract surgery.
Study design: A randomized controlled trial.
Place and duration of study: Eye "B" Unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, from October 2009 to October 2010.
Methodology: Patients undergoing cataract surgery were divided into two groups. Group A received subtenon anesthesia and group B received peribulbar anesthesia. Pain score, akinesia and intraocular pressure were compared in the two groups. Statistical Package for Social Sciences-14.0 was used for data analysis.
Results: There were 304 patients, 152 patients in each group. At the time of injection, there was less pain in group A as compared to group B (p < 0.001). At the time of surgery and till 90 minutes after administration of anesthesia, there was no significant difference in pain between the 2 groups (p = 0.999 and 0.59 respectively). Group A had better akinesia as compared to group B (p = 0.04). There was a greater rise in mean intraocular pressure just after injection in group B as compared to group A (p < 0.001); in both groups, the intraocular pressure declined to its base level 10 minutes after the injection (p = 0.52).
Conclusion: Subtenon anesthesia is less painful at the time of its administration, provides better akinesia and leads to smaller rise in intraocular pressure just after the injection than peribulbar anesthesia.