Light sensitivity and pain sensation during cataract surgery. A comparative study of two modes of anaesthesia.

The objective of this study was to compare the light sensitivity and pain experienced by patients undergoing cataract surgery under subtenon and topical with intracameral anaesthesia. Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive either two drops of proxymethacaine 0.5% as topical anaesthesia with 0.5 ml preservative-free 1% intracameral lidocaine or 4 ml 2% lignocaine as subtenon anaesthesia. Light sensitivity and overall pain perception were recorded at the end of surgery. The mean pain score in the subtenon group (0.11; range 0-1) was lower than in the topical group (1.07; range: 0-3, P < 0.001). The mean light-sensitivity score was lower in the subtenon group (0.26; range: 0-4) than in the topical group (1.29; range: 0-4, P = 0.001). Subtenon anaesthesia was more effective in suppressing light sensitivity and pain during cataract surgery than topical with intracameral anaesthesia. This suggests that use of subtenon anaesthesia may lead to a more comfortable operative experience.