Combined topical and subconjunctival anesthesia in cataract surgery.

A combined technique of topical anesthesia (TA) and subconjunctival anesthesia (SCA) was used in 73 consecutive patients undergoing scleral tunnel phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Medical records were evaluated preoperatively, intraoperative, and postoperatively. A patient questionnaire was used to obtain subjective intraoperative and postoperative information. Preoperative and intraoperative sedation of varying degrees was necessary. Ninety-five percent of the patients reported no pain. No patients required additional retrobulbar or peribulbar anesthesia. The most frequent postoperative problems were pain, a need for patching, and headache. The combined TA and SCA technique appeared safe, medically acceptable, and cost-effective.