Retrobulbar chlorpromazine injections for the management of blind and seeing painful eyes.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of primary retrobulbar chlorpromazine injections for the management of blind and seeing painful eyes.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Retrospective case series from three university hospitals was done. Twenty eyes of 20 patients with at least 3 months of follow-up are reported. Ten of these 20 eyes did not receive any other ophthalmic medications either 2 weeks before chlorpromazine injection or at any time point after injection. Treatment was considered successful if pain control lasted for at least 3 months, without the need for reinjection or enucleation.

RESULTS

Sixteen of 20 (80.0%) eyes achieved successful pain control. There were no permanent complications in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Retrobulbar chlorpromazine appears to be safe and effective for the management of pain in blind eyes.