The use of the laryngeal mask was compared with tracheal intubation in 30 patients who underwent intra-ocular ophthalmic surgery and who received intravenous anaesthesia with propofol. Changes in intra-ocular pressure, heart rate and mean arterial pressure after the insertion of the laryngeal mask airway or the tracheal tube were not significantly different. However, at the end of the procedure, a significantly higher percentage of patients with a tracheal tube coughed, reacted to head movement and suffered breath-holding. In addition, significantly more patients in this group complained of a sore throat (p less than 0.05). During intravenous propofol anaesthesia, the laryngeal mask airway does not offer any advantage over tracheal intubation in the control of intra-ocular pressure for intra-ocular ophthalmic surgery. However, there were fewer complications immediately following surgery in the laryngeal mask group.