New ‘no needle’ anaesthesia for cataract surgery introduced to St Anthony’s.
Mr Paul Ursell is a Consultant Ophthalmologist who has brought an improved technique for cataract surgery to St Anthony’s. ‘I had always noted how many patients wanted to have their cataract operation using local anaesthesia but were worried about the thought of a sharp needle’, he says. ‘It often can be the worst part of the operation for many and can be a cause of pain and anxiety, as well as having a higher complication rate that newer techniques avoid.
Most patients who have cataract surgery opt for local anaesthesia to avoid the problems of a general anaesthetic such as taking a long time to wear off. General anaesthesia should be avoided when you have other medical problems such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol’ he continued. Mr Ursell has introduced a new technique of local anaesthesia but with no needle. ‘It is very effective and patients almost always opt to have it again for their second eye.
You have a few drops in the eye prior to surgery and then I run an infusion of anaesthetic solution into the area during the operation’, he noted. This leaves the eye pain free during the operation, is much less painful to administer and is considerably less worrying and risky than using a needle. Also patients can continue to take their normal medications including Aspirin and Warfarin and do not have to starve before surgery’ he said recently.
Mr Ursell was the first Consultant Ophthalmologist in the UK appointed with an MD degree in modern cataract surgery and lectures around the world on cataract surgery. His clinic is on Thursday from 5.30 where he sees patients with cataracts and all different forms of eye problems.
Further information can be found at Mr Ursell’s website www.cataract-doctor.com
