What type of injection is used to block the ciliary ganglion and nerves?

Retrobulbar injections are specifically designed to reach the retrobulbar space, which is located behind the eyeball. This type of injection is particularly effective in blocking the ciliary ganglion and its associated nerves, including those that control the eye muscles and sensory innervation. By delivering anesthetic agents directly into this space, it provides profound anesthesia for surgical procedures on the eye, allowing for both pain relief and relaxation of the ocular structures.

In contrast, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections do not effectively target the nerves behind the eyeball and may result in inadequate anesthesia for ocular surgeries. Topical anesthetics may provide local surface anesthesia but do not penetrate deeply enough to affect the ciliary ganglion and surrounding nerves for more invasive surgical procedures. Therefore, retrobulbar injections are the preferred method when a more comprehensive blockade of the intraocular nerves is required.