title: Effect of lidocaine gel anesthesia on endophthalmitis rates following intravitreal injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the use of lidocaine gel before application of povidone-iodine affects endophthalmitis rates following intravitreal injections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective consecutive case series of all intravitreal injections and post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis cases at one institution from 2000 to 2009. A review of medical records of post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis cases was performed to determine whether lidocaine gel was applied prior to povidone-iodine antisepsis and to analyze the clinical course and outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 8,802 intravitreal injections were administered during the study period. When no lidocaine gel was used prior to povidone-iodine antisepsis, four cases of endophthalmitis following 4,120 intravitreal injections (0.097%) were recorded. When 2% lidocaine gel was applied before povidone-iodine, four cases of endophthalmitis following 4,682 intravitreal injections (0.085%) were observed (P = 1.00, odds ratio = 1.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of lidocaine gel prior to povidone-iodine antisepsis did not significantly alter post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Eleonora M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lad
authors.forename: Mitchell G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Maltenfort
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005782:Gels; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D008012:Lidocaine