[Evaluation of single-injection caruncular sub-Tenon's anesthesia]. / Evaluation de l'anesthésie caronculaire sous-ténonienne en une seule injection.

INTRODUCTION: Because of its complications, particularly globe perforation, retrobulbar injection has been progressively replaced by peribulbar anesthesia. However, with peribulbar anesthesia, the excessive rate of imperfect blockade requires supplemental injection. We have been performing local anesthesia using caruncular sub-Tenon single injection for many years. This technique is evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study has been carried out on 183 eyes. Regional anesthesia was given by a caruncular sub-Tenon single injection. For each case, we studied akinesia, analgesia, pain before, during, and after surgery, the number of supplemental injections, eyeball orientation, and surgical conditions. RESULTS: A total motor blockade was obtained in 157 cases (85.8%) and total lid akinesia in 176 patients (96.2%). Eight patients (4.4%) needed a second injection. During surgery, 10 patients complained of pain (5.5%). We found 27 eyes (14.7%) were divergent and 12 (6.5%) were convergent. Surgical conditions were good or very good in 90% of cases. No complications due to the injection (perforation or lesion of the eyeball or the optic nerve) were noted. CONCLUSION: Single-injection caruncular sub-Tenon anesthesia is an alternative technique to classical peribulbar anesthesia. This technique is efficient, simple, easy to learn, reproducible, and seems to have a low rate of complications.

[Keratitis due to caterpillar of Pseudosphinx tetrio hairs]. / Kératite par projection de poils de chenille de Pseudosphinx tetrio.

A case of keratitis due to caterpillar hairs of the Pseudosphinx tetrio is reported. As he was clearing his garden without glasses or a protective headgear, the patient felt left ocular pain due to the projection of a caterpillar into the eye. On examination, there were numerous intrastromal caterpillar hairs involving the inferior temporal quadrant of the cornea. The small size of the hairs prevented removal with forceps. The patient was treated by extensive washing of the eyeball and topical application of anti-inflammatory drugs, cycloplegics and antibiotics. The caterpillar hairs gradually came off the cornea over a two-weeks period. The cornea remained free of any scar. Besides keratitis and conjunctivitis, caterpillar hairs are known to cause iris nodules, chronic uveitis, cataract, hyalitis, chorioretinitis, and orbital cellulitis.