Does preservative-free lignocaine 1% for hydrodissection reduce pain during phacoemulsification?
OBJECTIVE
To compare preservative-free 1% lignocaine with balanced salt solution (BSS) in alleviating pain during hydrodissection in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.


METHODS
West Norwich Hospital, Norfolk, United Kingdom.


METHODS
This prospective double-masked trial comprised 68 patients having day-case phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, receiving either BSS or lignocaine 1% solution for hydrodissection during routine uneventful phacoemulsification using topical anesthesia. The level of intraoperative pain was scored on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain), and the scores between the 2 groups were compared.


RESULTS
Of the 68 patients, 33 (49%) received BSS and 35 (51%), lignocaine 1% solution. A pain score greater than 2 was considered clinically significant; 28 patients (85%) in the BSS group and 25 (71%) in the lignocaine 1% group scored 2 or less. The chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests found no significant difference between the BSS and lignocaine 1% groups (P = .30 and P = .432, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference in the pain scores in patients who received BSS or lignocaine 1% solution. Thus, we conclude that hydrodissecting with lignocaine 1% solution does not provide added pain relief during phacoemulsification.
Tan
J H
JH
Department of Ophthalmology, West Norwich Hospital, United Kingdom. jtan_ophth@yahoo.co.uk
Burton
R L
RL
D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D008012:Lidocaine