Eye surgery, also known as orogolomistician surgery or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, typically by an ophthalmologist.[1] Although most eye surgery can be performed by an experienced general ophthalmologist, more complex procedures are usually done by one who is fellowship trained.
The eye is a delicate organ, requiring extreme care before, during and after a surgical procedure. An expert ophthalmologist must identify the need for specific procedure and be responsible for conducting the procedure safely. Many university programs allow patients to specify if they want to be operated upon by the consultant or the resident / fellow.
Proper anesthesia is a must for any eye surgery. Local anesthesia is most commonly used. Retrobulbar and peribulbar techniques for infiltrating the local area surrounding the eye muscle cone are used to immobilize the extraocular muscles and eliminate pain sensation. Topical anesthesia using lidocaine topical gel is preferred for quick procedures. In topical anesthesia, patient cooperation is a must for a smooth procedure. General anesthesia is recommended for children, traumatic eye injuries, major orbitotomies and for apprehensive patients. Cardiovascular monitoring is preferable in local anesthesia and is mandatory in general anesthesia. Proper sterile precautions are taken to prepare the area for surgery, including use of antiseptics like povidone-iodine. Sterile drapes, gowns and gloves are a must. A plastic sheet with a receptacle helps collect the fluids during phacoemulsification. An eye speculum is inserted to keep the eyes wide open. For anxious patients, supplementation with a facial nerve block using lidocaine and bupivacaine is recommended.
Laser eye surgery
Although the terms Laser Eye Surgery and Refractive surgery are commonly used as if they were interchangeable, this is not the case. Lasers may be used to treat nonrefractive conditions (e.g. to seal a retinal tear), while radial keratotomy is an example of refractive surgery without the use of a laser.
Cataract surgery, using a temporal approach phacoemulsification probe (in right hand) and "chopper"(in left hand) being done under operating microscope at a Navy medical center
A cataract is an opacification or cloudiness of the eye's crystalline lens due to aging, disease, or trauma that typically prevents light from forming a clear image on the retina. If visual loss is significant, surgical removal of the lens may be warranted, with lost optical power usually replaced with a plastic intraocular lens (IOL). Due to the high prevalence of cataracts, cataract extraction is the most common eye surgery.[2]
Glaucoma is a group of diseases affecting the optic nerve that results in vision loss and is frequently characterized by raised intraocular pressure (IOP). There are many types of glaucoma surgery, and variations or combinations of those types, that facilitate the escape of excess aqueous humor from the eye to lower intraocular pressure, and a few that lower IOP by decreasing the production of aqueous humor.
Canaloplasty
Canaloplasty is an advanced, nonpenetrating procedure designed to enhance drainage through the eye’s natural drainage system to provide sustained reduction of IOP. Canaloplasty utilizes microcatheter technology in a simple and minimally invasive procedure. To perform a canaloplasty, an Ophthalmologist creates a tiny incision to gain access to a canal in the eye. A microcatheter circumnavigates the canal around the iris, enlarging the main drainage channel and its smaller collector channels through the injection of a sterile, gel-like material called viscoelastic. The catheter is then removed and a suture is placed within the canal and tightened. By opening up the canal, the pressure inside the eye can be reduced. [1][2][3]
Refractive surgery aims to correct errors of refraction in the eye, reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses
Keratomilleusis is method of reshaping the cornea surface to change its optical power. A disc of cornea is shaved off, quickly frozen, lathe-ground, then returned to its original power.
Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis (OOKP), in which support for an artificial cornea is created from a tooth and its surrounding jawbone.[9] This is a still-experimental procedure used for patients with severely damaged eyes, generally from burns.[10]
Anterior vitrectomy is the removal of the front portion of vitreous tissue. It is used for preventing or treating vitreous loss during cataract or corneal surgery, or to remove misplaced vitreous in conditions such as aphakia pupillary block glaucoma.
Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), or trans pars plana vitrectomy (TPPV), is a procedure to remove vitreous opacities and membranes through a pars plana incision. It is frequently combined with other intraocular procedures for the treatment of giant retinal tears, tractional retinal detachments, and posterior vitreous detachments [4].
Pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) is a type of photocoagulation therapy used in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.[12]
Ignipuncture is an obsolete procedure that involves cauterization of the retina with a very hot pointed instrument.[13]
A scleral buckle is used in the repair of a retinal detachment to indent or "buckle" the sclera inward, usually by sewing a piece of preserved sclera or silicone rubber to its surface.[14]
Laser photocoagulation, or photocoagulation therapy, is the use of a laser to seal a retinal tear.[12]
Pneumatic retinopexy
Retinal cryopexy, or retinal cryotherapy, is a procedure that uses intense cold to induce a chorioretinal scar and to destroy retinal or choroidal tissue.[15]
Recession involves moving the insertion of a muscle posteriorly towards its origin.
Myectomy
Myotomy
Tenectomy
Tenotomy
Tightening / strengthening procedures
Resection
Tucking
Advancement is the movement of an eye muscle from its original place of attachment on the eyeball to a more forward position.
Transposition / repositioning procedures
Adjustable suture surgery is a method of reattaching an extraocular muscle by means of a stitch that can be shortened or lengthened within the first post-operative day, to obtain better ocular alignment [8].
Oculoplastic surgery, or oculoplastics, is the subspecialty of ophthalmology that deals with the reconstruction of the eye and associated structures. Oculoplastic surgeons perform procedures such as the repair of droopy eyelids (blepharoplasty)[9], repair of tear duct obstructions, orbital fracture repairs, removal of tumors in and around the eyes, and facial rejuvenation procedures including laser skin resurfacing, eye lifts, brow lifts, and even facelifts. Common procedures are:
Oculoplastic surgery refers to Specialist Reconstructive and Cosmetic (aesthetic) surgery in the eyelid region of the face for abnormalities which may be present by birth or acquired later by aging, accident or tumour etc.
This includes eyelid cysts and tumours, malpositions such as drooping eyelids ( ptosis ), inturning ( entropion) or outturning ( ectropion ) of lid margin, staring eyes in thyroid eye disease, watering eyes, facial palsy rehabilitation and artificial ( prosthetic ) eyes.
Oculoplastic surgeons also undertake aesthetic treatments and surgery to improve the cosmetic appearance of the face, such as blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) to remove excess overhanging skin of the upper eyelids and puffy bags from under the eyes ; brow lift, Botox and dermal filler injections to remove wrinkles ( crow feet) , forehead lines and tear trough deformity
An enucleation is the removal of the eye leaving the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact.[22]
An evisceration is the removal of the eye's contents, leaving the scleral shell intact. Usually performed to reduce pain in a blind eye.[23]
An exenteration is the removal of the entire orbital contents, including the eye, extraocular muscles, fat, and connective tissues; usually for malignant orbital tumors.[24]
Many of these described procedures are historical and are not recommended due to a risk of complications. Particularly, these include operations done on ciliary body in an attempt to control glaucoma, since highly safer surgeries for glaucoma, including lasers, non-penetrating surgery, guarded filtration surgery and seton valve implants have been invented.
A ciliarotomy is a surgical division of the ciliary zone in the treatment of glaucoma.[19]
A ciliectomy is 1) the surgical removal of part of the ciliary body, or 2) the surgical removal of part of a margin of an eyelid containing the roots of the eyelashes.[19]
A ciliotomy is a surgical section of the ciliary nerves.[19]
A conjunctivoanstrostomy is an opening made form the inferior conjuctival cul-de-sac into the maxillary sinus for the treatment of epiphora.[19]
A conjunctivorhinostomy is a surgical correction of the total obstruction of a lacrimal canaliculus by which the conjuctiva is anastomosed with the nasal cavity to improve tear flow.[19]
A corectomedialysis, or coretomedialysis, is an excision of a small portion of the iris at its junction with the ciliary body to form an artificial pupil.[19]
A corectomy, or coretomy, is any surgical cutting operation on the iris at the pupil.[19]
A cyclectomy is an excision of portion of the ciliary body.[19]
A cyclotomy, or cyclicotomy, is a surgical incision of the ciliary body, usually for the relief of glaucoma.[19]
A cycloanemization is a surgical obliteration of the long ciliary arteries in the treatment of glaucoma.[19]
An iridectomesodialsys is the formation of an artificial pupil by detaching and excising a portion of the iris at its periphery.[19]
An iridodialysis, sometimes known as a coredialysis, is a localized separation or tearing away of the iris from its attachment to the ciliary body.[19][23]
An iridesis is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the iris is brought through and incarcerated in a corneal incision in order to reposition the pupil.[19][13]
An iridocorneosclerectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the iris, the cornea, and the sclera.[19]
An iridocyclectomy is the surgical removal of the iris and the ciliary body.[19]
An iridocystectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the iris to form an artificial pupil.[19]
An iridosclerectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the sclera and a portion of the iris in the region of the limbus for the treatment of glaucoma.[19]
An iridosclerotomy is the surgical puncture of the sclera and the margin of the iris for the treatment of glaucoma.[19]
A rhinommectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the internal canthus.[19]
A trepanotrabeculectomy is used in the treatment of chronic open and chronic closed angle glaucoma.[25]
^ Cherkunov BF, Lapshina AV. ["Canaliculodacryocystostomy in obstruction of medial end of the lacrimal duct."] Oftalmol Zh. 1976;31(7):544-8. PMID 1012635.
^ ab Cvetkovic D, Blagojevic M, Dodic V. ["Comparative results of trepanotrabeculectomy and iridencleisis in primary glaucoma."] J Fr Ophtalmol. 1979 Feb;2(2):103-7. PMID 444110.