AIM: To evaluate the effect of surface anesthesia for phacoemulsification using 20g/L lidocaine.

METHODS: There were 1 850 patients(2 600 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification via surface anesthesia using 20g/L lidocaine. The analgesic effect was observed.

RESULTS: Totally 93% of 1 850 patients had not any pain during the surgery, a nice analgesic effect was showed, there was no complications duo to anaesthesia. Seven percent of all patients felt swelling pain during surgery but could tolerate. The naked or corrected visual acuity of 89.4% eyes was ≥0.6 one month after surgery.

CONCLUSION: Surface anesthesia of using 20g/L lidocaine is safe and painless for phacoemulsification.