Change in ocular alignment after topical anesthetic cataract surgery.
BACKGROUND
To report the incidence of, and change in ocular misalignment following topical anesthetic cataract surgery.


METHODS
Prospectively, 160 consecutive patients who were scheduled for cataract surgery under topical anesthesia were evaluated. All patients had a complete ophthalmic examination, including ocular alignment evaluation, just before and 1 day, 1 week, 3 weeks, and 2 months after cataract surgery.


RESULTS
Preoperatively, 26 patients had ocular misalignment. Mean deviation in these preexisting misalignment was 7.2 +/- 6.8 prism diopters (PD). Postoperatively, the angle of deviation improved to 5.4 +/- 7.4 PD. Acquired ocular misalignment after cataract surgery occurred in 12 of 160 patients (8%) at 1 day, and seven of 131 (5%) at 2 months. None of these seven patients sought medical attention for the diplopia.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall incidence of topical anesthesia-related change in ocular alignment after uneventful cataract surgery was 5%. However, no patients had symptomatic diplopia. Topical anesthetic cataract surgery could abolish the risk of postoperative diplopia and improve the heterophoric status of preexisting misalignment.
Chung
Seung Ah
SA
Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Chan Yoon
CY
Chang
Jee Ho
JH
Hong
Samin
S
Kang
Sung Yong
SY
Seong
Gong Je
GJ
Lee
Jong Bok
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004172:Diplopia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013285:Strabismus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000779:Anesthetics, Local