SUMMARY
Persistent binocular diplopia was related as a complication of ocular surgery under local anesthesia. The literature shows that the anesthetic used caused toxic effects on extraocular musculature.
A prospective evaluation of pre and postoperative ocular motility of cataract patients operated tinder retrobulbar anesthesia with 0.75% bupivacaine hydrochloride was accomplished, study showed that 7 patients complaining of persistent binocular diplopia presented similar behavior pattern on the muscle function during the postoperative period. The inferior rectus muscle showed weakliness until the first week totally recovering it function between the sixth and ninth weeks; contrariwise, the superior rectus muscle showed a discreet weakness until the first week. that intensified between the sixth and ninth weeks.