ABSTRACT
Background: Blindness due to cataract presents an enormous problem in terms of human morbidity, economical loss, andsocial burden. Retrobulbar anesthesia was commonly used for cataract surgery. Rare but serious complications led manyophthalmologists to replace retrobulbar with peribulbar anesthesia. However, even peribulbar anesthesia does not eliminatethe serious complications totally. These concerns have led to increased use of blunt needle sub-Tenon’s block over the sharpneedle blocks.Materials and Methods: 200 cases were selected, of which 100 were in the sub-Tenon’s group and the remaining 100 werein the peribulbar group. The efficacy of anesthesia between the two groups was compared in terms of analgesia at variousintervals, akinesia of the globe and eyelids attained after the block. They were graded on a subjective scale and recorded.Minor complications such as chemosis, sub-conjunctival hemorrhage, and rise in increased intraocular pressure (IOP) werealso compared and analyzed.Results: Sub-Tenon’s anesthesia provided better analgesia than peribulbar anesthesia although the akinesia was poorer thanthe latter. Minor complications such as sub-conjunctival hemorrhage were more in sub-Tenon’s group while instantaneous risein IOP was more in peribulbar group. The incidence of chemosis was almost comparable in both the groups.Interpretation and Conclusion: Sub-Tenon’s anesthesia is recommended as a safe and effective alternative to peribulbaranesthesia for small-incision cataract surgery as it provides good analgesia, adequate akinesia, and rare minor complications.