ABSTRACT
Ophthalmic surgery involves patients in all age groups and may be performed under local or general anesthesia. The neonate and infant present special problems, and may have associated congenital anomalies that influence anesthetic management. Most elderly patients have coincidental medical problems, especially cardiorespiratory disorders, arthritis, or diabetes mellitus, and may well be taking several drugs.l~3 Although patients may be in a high-risk category, ophthalmic surgery is low risk with respect to general morbidity and mortality. Many procedures are suitable for day-case surgery,but the established criteria for the care of day-stay patients may need to be reviewed. This is because this type of surgery causes minimal blood loss and physiologic disturbance, a lack of fluid shifts, little impact on the stress response and frequently an absence of postoperative pain.
