Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lidocaine nerve block effects on dog eye pressure and exam
By Golzar, Bahar et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2025·Graduated from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of lidocaine for auriculopalpebral nerve block in dogs: Onset, duration, and effects on intraocular pressure and eye examination.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 12 healthy mixed-breed dogs underwent a procedure to test the effectiveness of a local anesthesia technique called the auriculopalpebral nerve block using lidocaine. This technique was aimed at temporarily paralyzing the eyelids to help with eye examinations without affecting the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), which is important for diagnosing conditions like glaucoma. The results showed that the nerve block was effective in achieving eyelid akinesia (paralysis) in most dogs, peaking at 30 minutes after the injection, and did not significantly alter IOP readings. This suggests that the technique is safe and useful for eye procedures in dogs.
People also search for: dog eye exam anesthesia · lidocaine for dog eyelid paralysis · glaucoma treatment in dogs · dog eye pressure measurement
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Accurate intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement is essential for managing glaucoma, requiring tonometry. Local anesthesia is typically used, but nerve blocks may be needed for blepharospasm. This study investigated the efficacy of auriculopalpebral nerve block with lidocaine in achieving eyelid akinesia and its influence on IOP in dogs. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURES: In a randomized, blinded trial, 12 healthy adult mixed-breed dogs (24 eyes) received either auriculopalpebral nerve block with 2% lidocaine (n = 12 eyes) or no block (n = 12 eyes). Tetracaine drops were used for topical anesthesia in half of blocked/non-blocked eyes, and the rest of the eyes got artificial tears as control. The impact of nerve block was evaluated through assessments of menace response, palpebral reflex, and IOP before the block, after drop instillation, and at 15-min intervals until block dissipation. RESULTS: Auriculopalpebral nerve block provided effective eyelid akinesia in 58.5% (7/12 eyes) at 15 min, reaching 91.7% (11/12 eyes) at 30 min, indicating peak efficacy. Subsequently, the block gradually diminished, with 66.7% (8/12 eyes) and 33.3% (4/12 eyes) maintaining akinesia at 45 and 60 min, respectively. Importantly, neither auriculopalpebral nerve block nor tetracaine administration significantly affected IOP measurements (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Auriculopalpebral nerve block using lidocaine demonstrated efficient eyelid akinesia, peaking at 30 min postinjection. This technique proved to be safe with no notable alterations in IOP, suggesting its potential utility in canine ophthalmology for procedures requiring eyelid akinesia, particularly in the management of glaucoma where maintaining accurate IOP measurements is crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39207170/