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Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87:157-159 doi:10.1136/bjo.87.2.157
  • Scientific correspondence

Efficacy of lignocaine 2% gel in chalazion surgery

  1. R T H Li1,
  2. J S M Lai1,
  3. J S K Ng2,
  4. R W K Law3,
  5. E M C Lau4,
  6. D S C Lam3
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
  3. 3Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, University Eye Center, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
  4. 4Department of Community & Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
  1. Correspondence to: Dr Randa T H Li, Department of Ophthalmology, United Christian Hospital, Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; randali{at}net-yan.com
  • Accepted 14 May 2002

Abstract

Background/aims: To determine whether topical 2% lignocaine (lidocaine) gel is an effective anaesthetic agent for chalazion surgery.

Methods: In a randomised controlled clinical trial, 57 subjects aged 12 years or over requiring incision and curettage for chalazion were recruited over an 8 month period. Patients were randomised into two groups. One group received 1.5 ml of lignocaine 2% injection and the other 1.5 ml of lignocaine 2% gel topically. Standard incision and curettage was then performed. The primary outcome of interest was the total pain experienced during the entire procedure including anaesthetic administration as well as incision and curettage. The pain from the local anaesthetic administration and during incision and curettage was assessed independently using a visual analogue scale (0–100). The sum of these two scores would be the total pain score out of 200. “Fear of injection” score (0–100) was also assessed.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean total pain scores between the injection and the gel groups (95.6 v 57.0) (p <0.001) (α = 0.05) (1 − β = 0.9394). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores on “pain of anaesthetic administration” (47.0 v 5.5) (p <0.000). There was no statistically significant differences in the mean scores on “fear of injection” (43.9 v 47.7) (p = 0.668) and “pain during incision and curettage” (48.28 v 51.4) (p=0.679).

Conclusions: Lignocaine 2% gel is effective in chalazion surgery especially in lowering the pain caused by anaesthetic administration.

Footnotes

  • Financial support: Nil.

    Proprietary interest: Nil.

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