Sedation Used in Eye Surgery

For all eye surgeries, some variety of sedation will be used. This can vary greatly from a light topical anesthesia to general anesthesia. The least invasive method is chosen, based on the length and severity of the surgery.

Conscious Sedation

• Conscious sedation is achieved through the usage of narcotic medications, or benzodiazepine-type medications. The most widely-used varieties in opthalmology are Fentanyl and Midozolam, used separately or often together.

Local Anesthetic

• Most eye surgeries will utilize a local anesthetic, which are usually numbing eyedrops consisting of lidocaine, or retrobulbular or peribulbular injections to the eye muscle to prohibit the eye from moving during surgery. This may be used together with conscious sedation, depending on the extent or severity of the surgery.

General Anesthesia

• With the exception of extreme surgeries or opthalmic surgeries in children, general anesthesia is normally not utilized unless absolutely necessary. The majority of eye surgeries can be accomplished with the usage of just local anesthesia and conscious sedation medications.

Interesting Fact

• Incidentally, in 1884, Dr. Karl Koller used cocaine as anesthesia for eye surgery at the suggestion of Sigmund Freud. It was found that cocaine relieved pain, and numbed the eye enough to prevent additional pain.

Nitrous Oxide Warning

• According to a study released by the Oregon University of Health and Science in 2009, patients who have undergone eye surgery of any kind, regardless of sedation used, should avoid receiving nitrous oxide for any procedures in the following months as it could lead to blindness.