The Effects of Medical Clowning on Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate of Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery Under Local Anesthesia

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing an elective, ambulatory cataract surgery (phacoemulsification technique) * Surgery planned to be performed under local anesthesia * Age \> 40 years * Patients signed an informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Hypertensive patients who did not take their prescribed medications on the day of surgery * Uncontrolled hypertension during the month preceding the surgery * Patients with systolic and diastolic BP values of \>190 and 100 mmHg respectively, measured 1hr prior to surgery * Patients not suitable for surgery under local anesthesia * Patients in whom the planned phacoemulsification technique was converted to either the ECCE or ICCE technique * Patients in whom an anterior vitrectomy had to be performed during surgery * Patients treated regularly by anti-anxiety or analgetic treatment