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Study: Lidocaine gel more effective than unpreserved drops

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ROME — When administered by gel instead of drops, the same amount of lidocaine gives significantly higher intracameral levels of the drug, better analgesia, better patient cooperation and less need for interoperative supplemental anesthesia, according to a study.

Antonio Bardocci, MD, and others here at Ospedale San Pietro-Fatebenefratelli randomized 107 patients to receive 20 mg of lidocaine, by application of either a 2% lidocaine gel or lidocaine 4% unpreserved eye drops, before clear corneal phacoemulsification.

In the gel group, intracameral lidocaine levels were significantly higher (P < .001), and patients scored their intraoperative pain significantly lower (P = .026), than in the eye drop group. Increases in blood pressure were more frequent in the eye drop group. Supplemental anesthesia was required in two cases in the gel group and in eight cases in the eye drop group. No correlation between intracameral lidocaine levels and intraoperative pain scores was found.

The study is published in the January issue of Ophthalmology.