Topical anesthesia: Proxymetacaine versus Amethocaine for clear corneal phacoemulsification.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the use of proparacaine (Proxymetacaine) versus tetracaine (Amethocaine) as the topical anesthetic agent for phacoemulsification cataract surgery using a 3.5 mm clear corneal sutureless incision.

SETTING:

Harold Wood Hospital, Romford, Essex, United Kingdom.

METHODS:

This prospective study comprised 40 randomly selected patients. Twenty were given Proxymetacaine and 20, Amethocaine. The level of discomfort experienced during delivery of the topical anesthetic agent and during and immediately after surgery was measured using a pain score. During surgery, topical anesthesia was supplemented by intracameral lignocaine 1%.

RESULTS:

Patients given Proxymetacaine experienced no stinging sensation during its administration; those given Amethocaine reported varying degrees of discomfort. The difference between groups was statistically significant (P < .01). There was no difference between groups in the amount of discomfort experienced intraoperatively or postoperatively.

CONCLUSION:

Proxymetacaine is the topical analgesic of choice for phacoemulsification because it produced no discomfort on administration yet had the same analgesic properties as Amethocaine.

• Authors: R Hamilton, C Claoué
• Journal: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery (J Cataract Refract Surg) Vol. 24 Issue 10 Pg. 1382-4 (Oct 1998) ISSN: 0886-3350 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9795856 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anesthetics, Local
• Tetracaine
• Lidocaine
• proxymetacaine
• Propoxycaine

Topics

• Analgesia
• Anesthesia, Local (methods)
• Anesthetics, Local (administration & dosage)
• Cornea
• Humans
• Lidocaine (administration & dosage)
• Pain Measurement
• Patient Satisfaction
• Phacoemulsification
• Propoxycaine (administration & dosage)
• Prospective Studies
• Tetracaine (administration & dosage)