Original Paper

Pain Relief after Pterygium Surgery with Viscous Lidocaine
H. Öksüz, C. Tamer

Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2006;220:323-326 (DOI: 10.1159/000094623)

  Key Words

• Postoperative pain
• Lidocaine gel
• Pterygium surgery
• Visual analogue scale

  Abstract

Purpose:The aim of the current study is to investigate the efficacy of lidocaine 2% gel for the control of pain experienced after pterygium surgery. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized clinical trial on 45 eyes of 45 patients who underwent pterygium surgery. The patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 was provided with topical 2% lidocaine gel and group 2 with artificial tear gel. The primary outcome of interest was the pain experienced at the 4th, 7th and 10th postoperative hours. Corneal reepithelization was evaluated by slitlamp biomicroscopy. Pain was determined using a 10-point linear visual analogue scale. No systemic analgesic or topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drop was administered. Results: The groups had similar demographic data. The mean pain scores of the study and the control groups according to the visual analogue scale were: 4.13 ± 1.86 and 6.50 ± 1.47 (p = 0.001) at the 4th postoperative hour, 4.00 ± 1.16 and 4.00 ± 1.16 (p = 0.001) at the 7th , and 2.39 ± 0.89 and 3.63 ± 1.00 (p = 0.001) at the 10th postoperative hour, respectively. The mean area of the corneal epithelial defect in the lidocaine gel group was 4.78 ± 1.04 mm² and 4.68 ± 0.89 in the artificial tear gel group (p = 0.42). The mean corneal reepithelization time was 37.56 ± 10.42 h in the lidocaine gel group and 34.36 ± 10.00 h in the artificial tear gel group (p = 0.26). There were no side effects related to the drugs observed in either of the 2 treatment groups. Conclusion: We conclude that topical lidocaine gel is an effective and safe anesthetic agent for the control of pain experienced shortly after pterygium surgery.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Assistant Prof. Hüseyin Öksüz
Department of Ophthalmology, Mustafa Kemal University
Medical Faculty, TR-31100 Hatay (Turkey)
Tel. +90 326 214 16 49, Fax +90 326 214 49 77
E-Mail huseyinoksuz1@yahoo.com

  Article Information

Received: October 20, 2005
Accepted after revision: January 27, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 22