Vision Loss After Inadvertent Corneal Perforation During Lid Anesthesia

A 68-year-old woman was referred for glaucoma management after inadvertent corneal perforation during eyelid anesthesia for upper eyelid blepharoplasty. A mixture of 50:50 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and 0.5% bupivacaine buffered with sodium bicarbonate was injected intracamerally. Decreased vision and uncontrollable intraocular pressure resulted, despite prompt anterior chamber washout. Examination showed corneal edema, inflammation, and secondary angle closure. Intraocular pressure control with seton placement led to an improvement in vision; however, mild corneal haze remained, and specular microscopy showed endothelial cell loss, presumably secondary to local anesthetic toxicity. Inadvertent ocular penetration is a rare but serious complication of local eyelid anesthesia. Prompt recognition is essential to institute appropriate management and minimize subsequent vision loss.