Eye Operation-Local Or General Anaesthetic ?

[Dinger2]

After many months of irritation of my eyeballs because of blepharitis (the bottom lid turning inwards and the lash rubbing/irritating the eyeball) I went to the eye hospital for help and was told I may have an entripion (please forgive spelling)which will require surgery,Of course I trust in the skills of the surgeon but I wonder if it is done under a local anaesthetic,how will that be administered ? I don't fancy a needle in my eye,or would it be a form of gel or drops ? If I had a choice I think I might prefer a general anaesthetic. Can anyone/A/B'er talking from experience,advise me please.

[Mamyalynne]

I have no experience of surgery for Entropion but I have had minor eye Surgery and would advise you to go along with what the Hospital recommends, everything always sounds worse than it is.

I have had needles in that area and it is surprisingly not that uncomfortable,hope you soon get it resolved, sounds very sore.

[grumpy01]

The operation is called an entropion.My late Mother had this procedure carried out some years ago prior to cataract surgery.It involves a local anaesthetic applied around the lower lid area so that the surgeon can make a small cut to allow the muscle to relax and thus the lower lid to turn outwards.The only thing is that if the surgeon is a little conservative with his/her cut it may need repeating as the lid will not drop forwar sufficiently to relieve the condition.Cataract surgery is when they inject into the eye after a series of local anaesthetic drops although having had this done myself I can say the thought of it is worse than the actual event.

[VHG]

I find it strange you have been to an eye hospital, but then ask US to give you advice about an operation on your eye.

Why not ask them.

[Sqad]

Almost invariably local anaesthesia in the fomr of drops.

[Dottyy]

From what I've heard, operations in the eye are done while you are awake, and you eye is open! I wish you much luck and hope that your doctor will be able to tell you ways to calm yourself before your surgery.

[grumpy01]

Sqad, this particular operation is done on the lower lid and is done by an incision just above the cheek bone.Therefore it will be a local anaesthetic applied by needle.Although I understand from people who have had the surgery done in other hospitals that eye drops are applied to anaesthatise the eye pre cataract surgery,I can categorically state that when I had mine done 18 months ago anaesthetic was administered by needle.

[Sqad]

grumpy....you are correct and i stand corrected.

[Dinger2]

Thanks Grumps,gratefull to you.

[Canary42]

Always go for local if it's an option - GA can be quite debilitating. I had a local on my eye when I was just 9 years old for a cyst removal from the lower lid and didn't feel a thing - just a bit weird seeing all that's going on in out-of-focus ultra-close-up.