Evaluation of efficacy of intracameral lidocaine and tropicamide injection in manual small-incision cataract surgery: A prospective clinical study

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to evaluate efficacy of intracameral lidocaine hydrochloride 1% and tropicamide injection 0.02% for anaesthesia and mydriasis in manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and to report any adverse drug reaction. METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective, observational study on 32 participants that took place from October 2021 to March 2022 (6 months). Patients between age group 40–75 year with nuclear sclerosis cataract and pupil diameter >6 mm in preoperative evaluation were included in the study. Patients with pseudoexfoliation, rigid pupil, senile miosis, history of uveitis, ocular trauma, recent ocular infections, with known allergy to tropicamide, all types of glaucoma were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Thirty-two eyes with nuclear sclerosis cataract who underwent MSICS were studied. Fixed dose combination of 2 ml phenyl epinephrine (0.31%), tropicamide (0.02%), and lidocaine (1%) intracamerally was used for mydriasis and analgesia. More than 7 mm pupillary dilatation was achieved within 20 seconds of injection in 29 cases (90.6%). Mild pain and discomfort was noted in 12 cases (37.5%). Postoperative day 1 unaided visual acuity was in the range of 6/18–6/12 for all patients and grade 1 iritis was seen in 7 cases (21.8%) which was self-limiting. No adverse event like corneal decompensation or TASS were noted. CONCLUSION: Thus, Intracameral injection of mydriatic provides rapid and sustainable mydriasis and analgesia for manual SICS.