Local anesthetics commonly used in ophthalmic surgery (0.5 to bupivacainehydrochloride,2.O% lidocaine hydrochloride,0.38% bupivacaine-1.O% lidocaine-l:1OO,000 epinephrine mixture) were injected into the retrobulbar space of rabbits. Physiologic saline was injected into that space in the control group in the same manner.All three anesthetics produced degeneration of the extraocular muscles to a varying extent. Muscle degeneration was followed by regeneration of the damaged muscle fibers. In addition to muscle damage, severe damage to the harderian glands was also seen in the lidocaine-injected group. The optic nerve was not affected. Based on these findings in rabbits, it is hypothesized that the temporary diplopia and ptosis sometimes seen in patients after ophthalmic surgery might be due to anesthetic-induced damage to the extraocular muscles.