Subjective visual experience during extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation under retrobulbar anaesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the subjective visual experience of patients during cataract surgery under retrobulbar anaesthesia.


METHODS
One hundred cataract patients who underwent routine extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation under retrobulbar anaesthesia were interviewed by the authors on the same day after their operation regarding their visual experience in the operated eye during surgery.


RESULTS
Forty-three men and 57 women were included in the study. Their mean age was 68.4 years (range 40-87 years). Their pre-operative best corrected visual acuity ranged from 6/12 to perception of light. Eighty-four eyes had no other ocular pathology apart from cataract. Twenty patients reported no light perception during the surgery. The rest reported that they could see light (80 patients), one or more colours (56 patients), movements (39 patients), flashes (36 patients), instruments (16 patients) and/or the surgeon's fingers or hands (10 patients). The colours seen included red (29 patients), yellow (29 patients), green (12 patients), blue (11 patients) and orange (2 patients). Fifteen patients saw a spectrum of colours similar to that of the rainbow. Forty-four patients reported that the brightness of light changed during the operation. Five patients found their visual experience frightening. There was no correlation between those who found the experience frightening and the sex or age of patient, presence of coexisting ocular pathology, duration of operation, whether the operation was the first or second cataract operation in the patient, or the type of visual sensation experienced.


CONCLUSIONS
Many patients undergoing cataract surgery under retrobulbar anaesthesia experience a variety of visual sensations that may be frightening in a small proportion of cases.
Au Eong
K G
KG
Department of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Kah_Guan_Au_Eong@notes.ttsh.gov.sg
Lee
H M
HM
Lim
A T
AT
Voon
L W
LW
Yong
V S
VS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000523:psychology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003118:Color Perception; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014796:Visual Perception