A randomized controlled trial of intracameral lidocaine during phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that adjunctive intracameral 1% lidocaine reduces intraoperative pain during phacoemulsification using topical anesthesia.


METHODS
Prospective, double-masked, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
A total of 200 patients undergoing routine phacoemulsification under topical 1% tetracaine were studied.


METHODS
Randomization to 0.5 ml intracameral, unpreserved, epinephrine-free 1% lidocaine or placebo was conducted.


METHODS
Intraoperative pain was quantified by the patients using a 0-10 visual analog pain scale.


RESULTS
Intraoperative pain scores (+/- standard deviation) for the lidocaine and control groups were 1.29 +/-1.24 and 1.44 +/- 1.33, respectively (P > 0.35).


CONCLUSIONS
In a rigorously double-masked, prospective, randomized, controlled trial there was no significant reduction in intraoperative pain when intracameral 1% lidocaine was used during phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia.
Boulton
J E
JE
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal United Hospital, Bath, United Kingdom.
Lopatatzidis
A
A
Luck
J
J
Baer
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects*; D019923:Capsulorhexis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine