Pain Management During Panretinal Photocoagulation for Diabetic Retinopathy: Safety and Efficacy of Peribulbar Anesthesia

Safety and Efficacy of Peribulbar Anesthesia for Pain Management in Patients With Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy During Panretinal Photocoagulation

The purpose of this study was to compare two different anesthesia methods for pain control during panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), a type of laser surgery that treats proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

The study included eyes from patients with diabetes and proliferative diabetic retinopathy who were scheduled to undergo their first PRP session. Participants were split into two groups to receive either peribulbar anesthesia, which is a type of anesthesia injected through the eyelid, or a sham injection with topical anesthesia only.

Pain on a numerical scale and vital signs were recorded before and for 15 minutes during PRP. These results were compared between the two groups to determine which method delivers superior pain control.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 years or older with proliferative diabetic retinopathy
• Scheduled to undergo their first PRP session
• Able to maintain the required posture at the slit lamp throughout the procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of phobic anxiety disorder related to needles or injections
• Known allergies or hypersensitivity to lidocaine, bupivacaine, or tetracaine
• Use of analgesics within 24 hours prior to treatment
• Cognitive or motor impairments that could hinder effective communication of pain.