Xylocaine gel 2% vs proparacaine 0.5% as topical anaesthesia in phacoemulsification in Bundelkhand: A prospective comparative study

To see the effectiveness of topical anesthesia; topical proparacaine 0.5% versus xylocaine (Lidocaine) gel 2%, during cataract surgery. This Prospective study was carried out in Ophthalmology department, Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, for 6 months from Oct. 2017 to March 2018'to evaluate the patients and surgeon's satisfaction at the end of the procedure. Total 100 number of patients (100 eyes) were included in the study, divided into, Group A receiving Xylocaine Gel 2% as topical anaesthesia and Group B receiving proparacaine 0.5% as topical anaesthesia patients were properly explained about the procedure. All 100 surgeries were conducted by single surgeon and same method of surgery was used in all patients i.e. phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation. No patients had severe pain in either group during the procedure; 6% (3 of 50) required use of adjunctive peribulbar anaesthesia in Group B while only 2% (1 of 50) required additional peribulbar block in Group A satisfaction rate for both surgeon and patient were high. There was no eye movement and blepharospasm related problems and no serious complications occurred. Rate of vitreous loss due to posterior capsule tear/rupture was none. Topical anesthesia is a satisfactory and safe alternative to peribulbar block and xylocaine gel 2% has same effectiveness as topical proparacaine 0.5% for cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and IOL implantation.