Pupil dilation with intra-cameral lidocaine versus topical midriatics during phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE To evaluate pupil dilation with intra-cameral injection of preservative-free lidocaine 1% (ICL) versus topical eye midriatics during phacoemulsification. METHODS This case-control study included 40 patients with similar bilateral senile cataract scheduled for phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. patient's first eye received topical midriatic eye drops as control group and next eye operated by intra cameral preservative free lidocaine 1% without any preoperative or intraoperative midriatics. We did not add epinephrine to the irrigating solution in either group. The first eyes received 3 drops of cyclopentolate 1% and tropicamide 1% each 5 minutes, with first dose 60 minutes before surgery. The horizontal pupil diameter was measured before and after pupil dilation using the same caliper with operation microscope total surgical time was recorded in both groups. RESULTS Patients included 20 male and 20 female with mean age of 72 and 70.9 years old .4 patients were diabetic and 11 cases had pseudo-exfoliation. Pupil diameter increased in both case and control groups significantly (P value<0.0) but the difference between mean increase in pupil size wasn't significantly different. Mean increase in pupil size was significantly greater in patients without pseudo-exfoliation (4.10 mm vs 3.85 mm, independent t test, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between diabetic and non- diabetic patients regarding of pre- and post-injection diameter of the pupil. CONCLUSION Intra-cameral preservative-free lidocaine 1% supply adequate midriasis during cataract surgery by itself.