title: Comparison of lidocaine 2% gel versus amethocaine as the sole anesthetic agent for strabismus surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of lidocaine 2% gel with amethocaine 1% eyedrops as the sole anesthetic agent for one-stage adjustable suture strabismus surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, double-masked randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen consecutive patients scheduled to undergo bilateral and symmetrical strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia in one institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient was randomized to receive lidocaine 2% gel in one eye and amethocaine 1% eyedrops in the other eye as the sole anesthetic agent for surgery. Masking of the patient and surgeon was ensured by administration of a placebo gel and eyedrop as part of the regimen. Pain and discomfort were assessed via a 10-cm visual analog scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective pain and discomfort perceived during surgery were assessed separately by the patient and the surgeon, and the need for any additional anesthesia was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 14 subjects indicated mean pain and discomfort scores of 2.6 and 3.2 respectively, for lidocaine gel, and 5.3 and 6.2, respectively, for amethocaine drops (P = 0.01). The mean number of additional drops required by eyes randomized to lidocaine gel was 0.3, compared with 1.6 for amethocaine drops (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of pain control, lidocaine 2% gel alone is a superior topical anesthetic for one-stage adjustable suture strabismus surgery when compared with amethocaine 1% eyedrops.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle Street, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. cboy@netvigator.com
authors.forename: Christopher B O
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Victoria W Y
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Dorothy S P
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Wilson W K
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Dennis S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005782:Gels; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine