Purpose: To determine whether 2% Lidocaine injection is an effective topical anesthetic agent for non-phaco small incision cataract surgery.
Setting: Charity eye clinic supported by Hellen Keller International.
Methods: One hundred and twenty-five consecutive cataract surgery patients received topical anesthesia with 2% Lidocaine injection solution just 1 and 0.5 minutes prior to non-phaco small incision cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Each patient was asked about pain or pressure sensation during the operation.
Results: The surgeon felt ease in the operations. Many patients (93/125) were comfort during the whole surgery. Only 9 patients' score was above level 3, mostly complained during the nucleus extraction; Among those whose score was level 1-2, 82.6% (19/23) claimed discomfort at middle of the operation (nucleus extraction) or the beginning (creating the conjunctival flap).
Conclusion: Lidocaine injection solution (2%) was an effective topical anesthesia agent in cataract surgery.