title: [Visual experiences during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cataract patients observe structures, colors and movements during surgery. Is there any pattern to their visual experiences?
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2005 to 2011 a total of 20,000 phacoemulsification procedures were performed using topical anesthesia. From these patients we received 45 pictures which had been painted to reflect intraoperative their visual impressions so that approximately 1 out of 500 of the patients painted a picture. A further 98 patients were questioned postoperatively about their intraoperative visual impressions and were shown the 45 pictures. They described their own visual experiences and any similarities with the 45 pictures were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were awake and cooperative during surgery. Afterwards they described their visual experiences whereby 36 patients saw mainly blue, 32 red/pink and 27 saw yellow colors. Out of the 45 pictures 30 (67%) were identified as being similar to their own visual images and 10 patients could not describe any postoperative visual phenomena.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients notice optical phenomena during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia with eye drops. Visual images are often similar among patients. The surgeon can use this knowledge to explain these experiences while talking to the patient intraoperatively. This may reassure patients during surgery.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik Petrisberg, Trier, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sigmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulze Schwering
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002386:Cataract / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059035:Perioperative Period / Q000523:psychology*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local