A new technique of local anesthesia for panretinal photocoagulation.

We report a technique of local anesthetic administration used in 26 consecutive patients undergoing panretinal photocoagulation. A blunt-tipped irrigating cannula delivered 3 cc of anesthetic into the posterior sub-Tenon's space through a small opening in conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule. Immediate anesthesia, with no serious complications, was obtained in 38 of 40 eyes, facilitating administration of rapid, high-intensity laser burns. Although our experience with it is limited, we believe that this technique allows avoidance of many of the potential complications associated with the passage of a needle into the retrobulbar space.