title: Influence of topical anesthetics on oculocardiac reflex and corneal healing in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the incidence of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) with two anesthetic regimens and its prevention using topical anesthetics in a rabbit model, and to explore the effect of topical anesthetics on corneal healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight clinically healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits of either sex were divided into two groups (Group A and B) and anesthetized with either ketamine (Group A, n =24) or propofol (Group B, n =24). he incidence of OCR was recorded in each group with a variety of ocular manipulation with or without the use of topical anesthetics (40g/L lignocaine, 5g/L proparacain, 5g/L bupivacaine). Corneal toxicity and healing following the use of each topical anesthetic was assessed one day after surgery and up to 7 days postoperatively by clinical examination of the eye, histopathology and collagen staining and transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No incidence of OCR was recorded with ocular manipulation under ketamine anesthesia, whereas significant reduction in heart rate (P<0.01) was recorded under propofol anesthesia. Topical anesthetics could successfully prevent the OCR without affecting the corneal healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical anesthetics may be recommended for prevention of OCR without any local adverse effect.
authors.affiliation: West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Subhasis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Prasenjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Debajyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konar
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konar
authors.forename: Sarbani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazra