The effect of retrobulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery on the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect retrobulbar and topical anesthesia on optic nerve by measuring retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness before and after phacoemulsification cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A total of 126 eyes of 108 patients were included in the study. Retrobulbar anesthesia was used in 61 eyes of 53 patients, and topical anesthesia was used in 65 eyes of 55 patients. OCT scans were done 1 week before the surgery and 4 weeks after surgery, and the results were evaluated. RESULTS: The average RNFL thickness increased postoperatively in both groups (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that retrobulbar anesthesia has no unfavorable effect on the retinal nerve fiber layer.