Lacrimal Dilator-Facilitated Incisionless Vs. Standard Sub-Tenon's Block: A Randomized, Prospective and Non-inferiority Comparative Study

The patients were randomly allocated to receive STB performed with a lacrimal dilator (Group LD) and with a Wescott scissors (Group WS). Randomization was ensured by sealed envelopes prepared according to a computer-generated table and the envelopes were opened by the operator just before the sub-Tenon's block.

Study protocol Local anaesthetic eye drops were installed into the conjunctiva, followed by iodine 5% aqueous drops to the conjunctival sac for 3 minutes.19 An eye lid speculum was inserted.

In group LD, the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule were lifted together tightly with a blunt forceps like a tent in the inferonasal quadrant and a punctal dilatator was placed tangential to the globe creating a round and small hole at 5 mm posterior to limbus. The block was performed using smooth rounded tip, 19 G, 1 inch sub-Tenon's cannula .

In Group WS, after lifting the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule together with a blunt forceps, incision was performed with a blunt tip Westcott scissors in the inferonasal conjunctival at 5 mm posterior to limbus to expose sub-Tenon's space. The block was performed with the above sub-Tenon's cannula.

All patients received lidocaine 2%, 3 mL without any adjuvant. No sedative was administered. All the blocks and surgeries were performed by the same investigator, but block evaluations were made by another investigator who was blinded to the technique used. All patients were discharged on the day of surgery.