Pill or IV? small study tests safer sedation for Seniors' eye surgery

NCT ID NCT07154147

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tested whether giving a sedative pill (alprazolam) before cataract surgery works as well as IV sedation (midazolam) in adults 65 and older. Twenty participants were randomly assigned to one of the two approaches, and researchers measured how well their thinking and memory recovered after surgery. The goal was not to declare a winner, but to see if a larger, more definitive study is possible.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Alprazolam (Xanax) and midazolam (Versed)

What this could lead to

If successful, this pilot could pave the way for a larger study that helps determine the safest sedation method for older adults during cataract surgery.

What could go wrong

This is a very small pilot study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. It is designed to test feasibility, not to prove which sedation method is better.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cataract Patient Satisfaction

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • UCSF Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision, Mission Bay

    San Francisco, California, 94117, United States