Comparison of Ocular Pain during Cataract Surgery Using a Scleral Pocket Incision under Pinpoint versus Intracameral Anesthesia

ABSTRACT

We compared the pain produced during different phases of phacoemulsification cataract surgery using a scleral pocket incision under pinpoint anesthesia with that under intracameral anesthesia. This prospective study comprised each 100 cataract patients who had no complications influencing the degree of pain during surgery. Patients were asked about pain immediately after each phase and pain occurring during each phase was measured using 4 step verbal scale(from 0 to 4). In both anesthesia,conjunctival reposition was the most painful.Pinpoint injection was statistically significantly more painful than induction of intracameral anesthesia.The pain score during conjunctival reposition and at 1hr after surgery were significantly higher under intracameral anesthesia than under pinpoint, but during most of phases under both anesthesia,the pain score was relatively low. Intracameral anesthesia is easy,safety and dose not require additional ocular damage during induction of anesthesia,so if combined with topical anesthesia,it is very effective during cataract surgery using scleral pocket incision.