We read with interest the recent article by Jonas et al.1
They are to be commended on a very interesting study evaluating a modified
retrobulbar local anesthesia technique to perform vitreoretinal procedures.
However, Jonas et al state in their article that "in retinal and vitreoretinal
surgery . . . general anesthesia is preferred." We have to disagree with that
statement. In fact, local anesthesia has become preferable to general anesthesia
for posterior vitrectomy procedures because of improvements in technique and
instrumentation in addition to surgical time. The advantages of local anesthesia
are well known and include more rapid ambulation, the ability to perform the
procedure as an outpatient, avoidance of complications of general anesthesia,
and quicker surgery.2