[Advantages and disadvantages of general anesthesia in eye surgery, seen by the ophthalmosurgeon (author's transl)].

General anesthesia in eye surgery necessitates additional investments in equipment, instruments, rooms and employees. It therefore increases the cost of operation. An anaesthesist, not familiar with the specialties of ophthalmic surgery, is a real risk. The advantages of general anesthesia outweigh by far the disadvantages: optimal observation survey and, if necessary supplementary care of the intubationned patient is guaranteed. The surgical treatment can be performed on the completely immobilized patient without any hurry, eventually additionally in controlled hypotension. Special emphasis has to be put on the postoperative care, especially on an immediate, rigorous mobilization of the patient. Under these conditions, the three-years-statistic clearly demonstrates, that the postoperative complications are as rare as those after operations performed in local anesthesia.