Pain and anxiety assessment in topical vs. peribulbar anesthesia in cataract surgery

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare topical with peribulbar anesthetic technique as regards pain and anxiety in patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Hundred patients undergoing phacoemulsification procedure were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups, topical and peribulbar anesthesia was used for group I and II respectively. Pain assessment was done using visual analogue pain scale following administration of the local and topical anaesthesia, immediately after surgery, 2 hours postoperatively and overall pain experience. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HARS] was used to assess the overall level of anxiety in the two studied groups. Pain score was significantly higher for Peribulbar group immediately after the block and over all pain experience [P value <0.01]. The two groups did not show any significant difference in the level of pain during the surgery and in the early post operative period. The topical group reported less perioperative anxiety compared to the Peribulbar group, but this difference did not reach significant level [P value= 0.6]. Patients undergoing phacoemulsification procedure under topical anesthesia experience less pain than patients received peribulbar blockade. Both techniques produce mild level of anxiety with less extent in topical group