Ophthalmological surgery
Ophthalmological surgery (or ocular surgery) encompasses a wide range of surgical procedures aimed at diagnosing, treating, and managing conditions affecting the eyes and visual system. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform both medical and surgical interventions to treat various eye diseases, injuries, and disorders. These surgeries can range from simple procedures to highly complex surgeries requiring advanced techniques and technology.
Here’s an overview of the major types of surgeries that fall under ophthalmological surgery:
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the most common eye surgeries performed worldwide. It is done to treat cataracts, a condition in which the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, leading to vision impairment.
- Phacoemulsification: A minimally invasive surgery where the cloudy lens is broken up (emulsified) using ultrasound energy, and the fragments are removed. A synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) is then implanted to restore vision.
- Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE): In cases where the cataract is too dense or complicated, this method may be used. The lens is removed in one piece, and an IOL is implanted.
- Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery: A newer, more advanced technique that uses femtosecond laser to perform key steps of cataract surgery, such as creating the incisions and breaking up the lens.
Refractive Surgery
Refractive surgery is designed to correct vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, by reshaping the cornea or implanting lenses.
- LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis): A popular procedure to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. A laser is used to reshape the cornea to improve the focus of light onto the retina.
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): A laser procedure similar to LASIK but without creating a flap in the cornea. Instead, the outer layer of the cornea is removed before the corneal tissue is reshaped.
- SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): A minimally invasive procedure where a small lens-shaped piece of tissue is removed from the cornea to correct myopia (nearsightedness).
- Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL): A type of surgery where a synthetic lens is implanted inside the eye, typically for patients who are not candidates for LASIK.
- Phakic Intraocular Lenses (IOLs): Insertion of a lens inside the eye in cases of severe refractive error, which cannot be corrected by LASIK or other surface surgeries.
Glaucoma Surgery
Glaucoma surgery aims to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and prevent damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to vision loss.
- Trabeculectomy: A traditional surgery where part of the eye’s drainage system is removed to allow fluid to drain out of the eye, reducing IOP.
- Tube Shunt Surgery: A small tube is implanted in the eye to help drain excess fluid and lower IOP, typically used in more complex or advanced glaucoma cases.
- Laser Trabeculoplasty: A laser procedure used to treat open-angle glaucoma by improving the drainage of fluid from the eye, thereby lowering IOP.
- Laser Iridotomy: Used to treat angle-closure glaucoma, this procedure creates a small hole in the iris to help fluid drain from the eye and reduce pressure.
- Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): A group of techniques that aim to reduce IOP with smaller incisions and faster recovery times. Examples include iStent implantation and Hydrus microstent insertion.
Retinal Surgery
Retinal surgeries treat diseases affecting the retina, such as retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and retinal tears.
- Vitrectomy: A procedure in which the vitreous gel inside the eye is removed to access the retina. It is used to treat conditions like retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, and macular holes.
- Retinal Detachment Surgery: A range of procedures to treat retinal detachment, including scleral buckle (a silicone band is placed around the eye to reattach the retina) or pneumatic retinopexy (injection of a gas bubble to reattach the retina).
- Laser Retinopexy: A laser is used to seal retinal tears or holes to prevent retinal detachment.
- Macular Hole Surgery: A procedure where the vitreous gel is removed, and the macular hole is treated with a gas bubble to facilitate healing.
- Diabetic Retinopathy Surgery: Laser photocoagulation is used to treat leaking blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes. Panretinal photocoagulation can help prevent vision loss in advanced diabetic retinopathy.
Corneal Surgery
Corneal surgery is used to treat conditions affecting the cornea, such as infections, dystrophies, trauma, and corneal scarring.
- Corneal Transplant (Keratoplasty): A surgical procedure to replace a diseased or damaged cornea with a donor cornea. There are different types of corneal transplants:
- Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK): The entire cornea is replaced.
- Lamellar Keratoplasty: Only part of the cornea is replaced, such as in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) or Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).
- Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL): A treatment for keratoconus, in which the corneal tissue is stiffened using UV light and riboflavin to prevent the cornea from bulging further.
- Excimer Laser Surgery: Used in refractive surgeries like LASIK to reshape the cornea to correct vision problems like myopia and hyperopia.
Eyelid and Oculoplastic Surgery
Oculoplastic surgery deals with reconstructive and cosmetic procedures of the eyelids, tear ducts, and surrounding structures of the eye.
- Blepharoplasty: A cosmetic or reconstructive surgery to remove excess skin, fat, or muscle from the eyelids, often done to correct drooping eyelids (ptosis) or bags under the eyes.
- Ptosis Surgery: Repair of drooping eyelids, often caused by weakening of the muscle that lifts the eyelid.
- Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR): A procedure to treat blocked tear ducts by creating a new drainage pathway for tears between the eye and the nose.
- Eyelid Tumor Removal: Surgical removal of benign or malignant tumors from the eyelid or surrounding tissues.
- Orbital Surgery: Surgery to address problems within the orbit (eye socket), such as orbital fractures, thyroid eye disease, or tumors.
- Enucleation/Evisceration: Removal of the eye due to severe trauma or disease, followed by prosthetic eye placement.
Pediatric Ophthalmic Surgery
Ophthalmic surgery in children addresses a variety of congenital and developmental eye conditions.
- Strabismus Surgery: Surgery to correct crossed eyes (strabismus) by adjusting the muscles around the eye, improving alignment and coordination.
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Surgery: Laser treatment or cryotherapy to prevent or treat retinal detachment in premature infants with abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.
- Congenital Cataract Surgery: Removal of cataracts present at birth, followed by IOL implantation or other corrective measures.
- Amblyopia Treatment (Lazy Eye Surgery): In some cases, surgery may be needed to improve the alignment or function of an eye that is not developing properly.
Trauma and Emergency Ophthalmic Surgery
Traumatic eye injuries require urgent surgical intervention to preserve vision and eye health.
- Globe Repair: Surgery to repair damage to the eye itself, such as lacerations or ruptures caused by trauma.
- Intraocular Foreign Body Removal: Surgical removal of foreign objects, such as metal or glass, that have penetrated the eye.
- Scleral or Corneal Laceration Repair: Repair of deep cuts or tears in the eye, which may involve suturing the sclera (white part of the eye) or cornea.
- Hyphema Surgery: In cases of blood accumulation in the anterior chamber of the eye, surgery may be required to remove the blood or repair associated trauma.
Laser Surgery
Laser procedures are commonly used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in ophthalmology.
- Laser Retinal Surgery: Used to treat conditions like diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, and macular edema by sealing blood vessels and preventing further damage to the retina.
- Laser Iridotomy: A laser procedure used to treat angle-closure glaucoma by creating an opening in the iris to allow better fluid drainage.
- Laser for Refractive Errors (PRK, LASIK): As mentioned, lasers are used to reshape the cornea in refractive surgeries like LASIK or PRK to correct vision problems.
Ophthalmological surgery is a highly specialized field that covers a wide variety of conditions affecting the eyes, from refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia to serious diseases like cataract
Online simple step for appointment
Make Appointment
Select Doctor