• S S Kang, I S Kim, J H Park, S J Hong, H K Shin, C G Song, Y C Yoo, and K M Shin.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and.
• Br J Anaesth. 2014 Nov 1;113(5):865-8.

BackgroundCervical epidural injection (CEI) is widely performed on patients with intervertebral disc herniation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the short-term effects of CEI on non-invasive intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements in subjects with normal eyes.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled 15 patients who were undergoing CEI at the C5/6 level with an interlaminar approach in the left lateral decubitus position. IOP was measured in both eyes by a rebound tonometer (Icare-PRO, Icare Finland Oy, Helsinki, Finland). A total volume of 14 ml (4 ml non-ionic contrast, a mixture of 0.2% lidocaine 1 ml and normal saline 4 ml for irrigation and a mixture of normal saline 4.5 ml with non-particulate betamethasone 2 mg) was injected with 1.0 ml s(-1). IOP was measured 5 min after the lateral decubitus position (T0, baseline), immediately after CEI (T1), and 1 min intervals for 5 min (T2-T6).ResultsThe values of left and right baseline IOP (T0) were 18.9 (2.0) and 15.6 (2.6) mm Hg, respectively. IOP of left and right eyes at T1 [26.6 (4.2) and 21.2 (2.5) mm Hg, respectively] and T2 [26.2 (4.5) and 21.0 (2.8) mm Hg, respectively] were significantly higher compared with T0. These values immediately decreased at T3 and returned to baseline levels within 5 min after CEI.ConclusionsCEI resulted in an elevation of IOP of both eyes. However, the effects were transient only lasting a few minutes.© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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