Eye surgery involves medical procedures performed by an ophthalmologist on the eye or its surrounding structures. These interventions treat various eye conditions, improve visual acuity, or prevent vision loss. Ophthalmology offers diverse surgical solutions, reflecting the eye’s complex anatomy. Procedures aim to restore or maintain clear vision, addressing issues from the front surface to its innermost structures.
Correcting Refractive Errors
Refractive error correction involves surgical procedures to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. These surgeries alter the eye’s focusing power by reshaping the cornea or implanting artificial lenses. The goal is to focus light directly onto the retina for clear vision.
One common procedure is Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, known as LASIK. It involves creating a thin, hinged flap in the cornea and then using an excimer laser to precisely reshape the underlying corneal tissue. After reshaping, the flap is repositioned, adhering naturally without stitches.
Photorefractive Keratectomy, or PRK, is another laser-based technique. The outer layer of the cornea, the epithelium, is gently removed before the excimer laser reshapes the corneal surface. The epithelium then regenerates over a few days.
For individuals not suitable for laser vision correction, Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery offers an alternative. This procedure involves surgically implanting a thin, flexible lens behind the iris and in front of the eye’s natural lens. ICLs are designed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, providing clear vision without altering corneal tissue.
Addressing Cataracts and Lens Issues
Cataract surgery addresses the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, known as a cataract. This clouding develops over time, leading to blurred vision, faded colors, and difficulty seeing at night. The standard approach involves removing the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
During the procedure, a small incision is made in the eye. An ultrasonic device is used to break up the cloudy lens into small pieces, which are then suctioned out, a process known as phacoemulsification. Once the natural lens is removed, a clear, artificial IOL is carefully inserted into the original lens’s position.
Various types of IOLs are available, each designed to meet different visual needs. Monofocal IOLs provide clear vision at a single distance, usually far vision, requiring reading glasses. Multifocal IOLs provide clear vision at multiple distances, reducing the need for glasses. Toric IOLs are designed to correct astigmatism in addition to distance vision.
Managing Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which can lead to irreversible vision loss. Surgical interventions for glaucoma aim to lower eye pressure to prevent further optic nerve damage. These procedures improve the drainage of aqueous humor, the fluid inside the eye.
One traditional surgical approach is trabeculectomy, which creates a new drainage channel in the sclera, the white outer wall of the eye. This allows fluid to filter out and be absorbed by the body, regulating eye pressure.
Another method involves implanting glaucoma drainage devices, also known as shunts. These small tubes with a plate divert aqueous humor from the eye’s anterior chamber to an external reservoir, lowering IOP.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS) represent a newer category of procedures. They reduce eye pressure with less tissue disruption than traditional surgeries. MIGS procedures involve tiny incisions and aim to enhance the eye’s natural drainage pathways or create new, microscopic ones. These less invasive options result in faster recovery times and fewer potential complications.
Treating Retinal and Vitreous Conditions
Surgical interventions for retinal and vitreous conditions address issues affecting the back of the eye, particularly the retina and the vitreous gel. These procedures are important for preserving or restoring sight when conditions like retinal detachment, macular holes, or complications from diabetic retinopathy occur. The specific surgical approach depends on the nature and severity of the condition.
Vitrectomy is a common procedure where the vitreous gel, which can become cloudy, filled with blood, or scar tissue, is removed from the eye. This allows better access to the retina and can alleviate traction caused by scar tissue. After removal, the vitreous cavity is refilled with a saline solution, a gas bubble, or silicone oil to help hold the retina in place while it heals.
For retinal detachments, where the retina pulls away from its normal position, a scleral buckle procedure may be performed. This involves surgically attaching a silicone band to the outside of the eye (sclera), indenting the eye wall to push the retina back into contact with the underlying tissue.
Laser photocoagulation is another technique used to treat retinal tears or abnormal blood vessels, associated with diabetic retinopathy. It uses a focused laser to create tiny burns, sealing tears or destroying problematic vessels. These procedures aim to reattach the retina, close holes, or stop bleeding to prevent further vision loss.
Procedures for the Cornea and Eye Surface
Procedures for the cornea and eye surface address conditions affecting the transparent front window of the eye and its outermost layers. These surgeries treat diseases, repair injuries, or remove abnormal growths impairing vision or causing discomfort. The cornea plays a role in focusing light, so its health is important for clear vision.
Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) replaces a damaged or diseased cornea with healthy donor tissue. This can be a full-thickness transplant (penetrating keratoplasty or PK), replacing all layers of the central cornea. Alternatively, partial-thickness transplants (lamellar keratoplasty) replace only specific layers of the cornea.
Another common eye surface procedure is pterygium removal. A pterygium is a fleshy, benign growth starting on the conjunctiva that can extend onto the cornea. While often harmless, it can cause irritation, redness, and obstruct vision if large enough. Surgical removal involves excising the growth, sometimes with a conjunctival graft to reduce recurrence. These interventions restore corneal clarity, alleviate discomfort, and preserve visual function.