Limbal Sub-Tenon's Administration of Retrobulbar Anesthesia Using a Blunt Irrigating Cannula

* BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To eliminate sharp needles when administering local anesthesia to the eye in order to reduce serious complications caused by needle perforation. * PATIENTS AND METHODS: After topical anesthesia, limbal conjunctival incision, and sub-Tenon's dissection, a retrobulbar irrigation of an equal mixture of bupivacaine (5 mg/ml) and lidocaine (20 mg/ml) was given using a blunt cannula. * RESULTS: The technique was used in both vitreoretinal surgery (n = 70) and anterior segment surgery (n = 235) with good analgesic and akinetic effects. No serious adverse reactions were noted. * CONCLUSION: This proved to be a safe and efficient technique that abandoned the use of sharp needles. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 1996;27:106-112.]