EYE DISORDERS & GENERAL REFERENCE

Anesthesia—Subconjunctival

Today, many surgeries of the eye can be performed using techniques that allow your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) to use injectable anesthetics to completely numb your eye before your surgical procedure rather than putting you to sleep using general anesthesia.

Subconjunctival anesthesia is the injection of a local anesthetic that completely numbs the eye. First, your ophthalmologist may provide you with a mild sedative through an IV before surgery to make the injection more comfortable. Then, the ophthalmologist inserts a needle beneath your conjunctiva, which is a thin skin covering the white portion of your eye, and injects a local anesthetic. This completely numbs your eye so that you will feel no pain during surgery. It also partially immobilizes your eye so that your ophthalmologist can perform your surgery quickly and easily.

By using subconjunctival anesthesia, your ophthalmologist ensures that you are as comfortable as possible during surgery. Since you will not be put to sleep using general anesthesia, your recovery time after surgery will be much quicker, and you will be able to go home the same day.