The use of general anesthetics in eye surgery demands full cooperation between the surgeon and the anesthetist. The advantages of a general anesthetic (patient completely immobilized, no pain at all, constant control of respiration and circulation possible, etc.) are described, as well as some disadvantages. The fact that intraocular pressure can be influenced by some drugs required with a general anesthetic is dealt with in detail. With regard to the disadvantages or complications arising with a local anesthetic special mention is made of temporary blindness resulting from retrobulbar injection. Over a period of 18 years (1962-1980), not one death occurred among 9000 patients who underwent surgery under a general anesthetic at the 2nd Budapest University Eye Clinic.