Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant Practice Exam

The option describing temporary paralysis of eye muscles accurately reflects one of the primary effects of retrobulbar injections. These injections involve delivering anesthetics and, in some cases, other agents directly into the retrobulbar space, which is situated behind the eyeball. This technique facilitates localized anesthesia to the eye, and the injected medication can block the cranial nerves that control the extraocular muscles. As a result, it can lead to temporary paralysis of the muscles responsible for eye movement, which is especially advantageous in surgical procedures to limit involuntary movements and promote the stability of the eye during the operation.

While retrobulbar injections can have other effects such as reducing intraocular pressure and providing anesthetic effects, the most defining feature in this context is their ability to paralyze eye muscles temporarily. This characteristic is crucial for enabling a clear surgical field and ease of the procedure for ocular surgeries.