Key Takeaways
- Oral diazepam showed no sedation-related adverse events and an extremely low complication rate (0.14%).
- Average 82-minute arrival-to-discharge supports office-based cataract surgery.
- Oral sedation provides a reliable, effective alternative to IV sedation, with optional MKO Melt support.
Oral sedation with diazepam is a safe, effective, and efficient alternative to IV sedation for cataract surgery in an office-based setting, with no sedation-related complications and very low intraoperative risk, according to a presentation at AAO 2025.
The analysis evaluated patient sedation protocols, adverse events, procedure efficiency, and intraoperative complications in 729 consecutive cataract surgeries. Patients received either 5 mg of diazepam (28%), 10 mg of diazepam (62%), or 10 mg of diazepam combined with MKO Melt (10%) prior to surgery. The average time from arrival to discharge was 82 minutes, demonstrating procedural efficiency suitable for an outpatient environment.
No adverse events related to sedation were reported, and no surgeries were canceled after sedation was initiated. Only one intraoperative complication occurred (a vitreous prolapse), resulting in a complication rate of 0.14%.
The authors concluded that oral sedation with diazepam, with optional MKO Melt supplementation, offers a safe and reliable alternative to intravenous sedation for cataract surgery in an office-based setting suite.
Reference
Redding CL, et al. Office-Based Cataract Surgery With Oral Sedation. Poster presented at: American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting; October 18–20, 2025; Orlando, FL.
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