J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1987 Oct;28(5):1053-1061.

Histopathological Changes of the Extraocular Muscles After the Retrobulbar Anesthesia

• Chang BL
• Lee GU

Abstract

Local anesthetics that are commonly used in ophthalmic surgery(0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride, 2.0% lidocaine hydrohloride, 0.38% bupivacaine-1.0% lidocaine-1:100,000 epinephrine mixture) were injected into the retrobulbar space of rabbit eyes. Physiologic saline was injected into that spaces in control group in the same manner. All three anesthetics produced degeneration of the extraocular muscles to a varying extent. Muscle degeneration was followed by rgeneration of the damaged muscle fibers. In addition to muscle damage, severe damage to harderian gland was also seen in lidocaine-injected group. The optic nerve was not affected. With these findings in rabbits, it is hypothesized that the temporary diplopia and ptosis sometimes seen in patients after ophthalmic surgery might be due to anestheticsinduced damage to the extraocular muscles.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia*
Anesthetics
Anesthetics, Local
Animals
Bupivacaine
Diplopia
Epinephrine
Harderian Gland
Humans
Lidocaine
Muscles*
Optic Nerve
Rabbits
Anesthetics
Anesthetics, Local
Bupivacaine
Epinephrine
Lidocaine