PULSE‐INDUCED INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE VARIATION AND RETROBULBAR ANAESTHESIA WITH AND WITHOUT ADRENALINE

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Abstract
The intraocular pressure (IOP) and pulse-induced IOP variation (IOPV) were registered before and 5 min after retrobulbar anesthesia (RBA) in 34 operations. Every 2nd operation the anesthetic (bupivacaine or lidocaine) was supplemented with adrenaline (epinephrine). Both IOP and IOPV were significantly lowered compared with the unanesthetized fellow eye. The change in IOP was 16.8% with adrenaline and 15.1% without it. IOPV decreased 50.6% with adrenaline and 36.2% without adrenaline. RBA apparently reduces the intraocular blood supply. This is probably 1 reason for the IOP lowering influence of RBA, although to a smaller degree, this vascular effect is also achieved without adrenaline.