Authors:

• Dr Santhana Kannan, Consultant, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust; President-elect, British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society
• Dr Satya Francis, Consultant Anaesthetist and Honorary Senior Lecturer, University Hospitals of Leicester

Ophthalmic Anaesthesia has changed. Recent advances in ophthalmic surgery, changes in the nature of patient population and steps to improve resource utilisation have added challenges to our practice. 

Last year saw guidelines being revised, and there is now the potential for eye regional blocks using ultrasound (US). This article will summarise and highlight key learning points for the year ahead.

Cataract surgery

With advancing age comes a higher risk of visual problems. If patients manage to reach 75 years of age without requiring cataract surgery, they’ve done very well! However, there’s a push not to delay surgery. Patients who undergo cataract extraction have a lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who don’t. Cataract surgery also reduces the risk of falls by 50%.