Clinical guidance
  • Cataract
  • Quality & safety

Local anaesthesia for ophthalmic surgery

  • Last updated or reviewed: 1 February 2012
  • First published: 1 February 2012
Local anaesthesia in ophthalmic surgery (PDF)

Guidance for ophthalmologists, anaesthetists and theatre teams on the safe use of local anaesthesia in ophthalmic surgery assessment, techniques, monitoring and complications to support day case care

Currently under review.

This joint guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists sets out minimum standards for delivering local anaesthesia in ophthalmic surgery. It supports multidisciplinary teams to provide safe, patient-centred care across the full pathway, from pre-operative assessment through to discharge and audit. The guidance reflects the shift to day case surgery, emphasising patient selection, clear communication, appropriate monitoring and robust clinical governance. It also outlines anaesthetic techniques, roles and responsibilities, and the prevention and management of complications to maintain safety and quality across services.