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Minimal pain reported for cataract surgery, with no difference shown between first, second extraction
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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Minimal pain may be experienced during clear corneal cataract surgery, with no difference in pain perceived for the first extraction vs. the second extraction, a study suggested.
"The majority of patients endorse low levels of pain both intraoperatively and postoperatively following modern cataract surgery. Despite frequent anecdotal reports, we were unable to detect a statistically significant difference in pain experienced with first eye vs. second eye surgery in our sample," Amy J. Estes, MD, said here at Kiawah Eye 2011.
The single-center, prospective, observational study assessed 42 patients (33 women) for pain experienced intraoperatively and postoperatively. Patients graded their pain using a visual analog scale on postop day 1 after each extraction. The average interval between the two surgeries was 2.3 weeks.
The average intraoperative pain score was 0.44 for the first surgery and 0.52 for the second. The average postoperative pain scores were 1.01 and 0.99, respectively. No statistically significant difference in intraoperative or postoperative pain was observed for the first surgery vs. the second surgery.
Of those patients who reported more intraoperative pain during the second surgery, 71.4% received a lower dose of intravenous anesthetics than they did during their first procedure. Of those who received more anesthesia during the second surgery, 89% reported equal or less pain.
"Given the lack of statistically significant difference in pain, we postulate that pain may actually correlate more closely with the IV anesthesia received during surgery as opposed to surgical factors," Dr. Estes said.
- Disclosure: Dr. Estes has no relevant financial disclosures. Her colleague, Keith A. Walter, MD, receives royalties from and is the recipient of intellectual property from Ocular Systems. He is also a consultant for Inspire and Ista.