There are many eye conditions that may require surgery, including glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will help you understand more about surgical procedures and determine if you’re a candidate.
Types of Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery: Laser refractive surgery or laser eye surgery to treat nearsightedess, farsightedness or astigmatism is constantly advancing. There are three types of laser eye surgery available: PRK, LASIK and SMILE. All three of these laser refractive surgeries reshape the front part of the eye called the cornea.
Cataract surgery: A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts usually develop slowly, causing a painless and gradual decrease in vision as the lens of the eye prevents light rays from properly passing through. This outpatient surgical procedure involves your ophthalmologist making a small incision and using phacoemulsification (ultrasound) to remove the cataract. Generally, you’ll wear a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) to help your replacement lens focus.
Glaucoma surgery: Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by a buildup of intraocular pressure (IOP). You may need surgery if other glaucoma treatments don’t work. Types of glaucoma surgery include laser treatments, trabeculectomy, tube shunt implantation, cyclophotocoagulation and MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery).
Strabismus surgery: If you have this condition, one eye looks at the object you are viewing, while the other eye is turned inward. In many cases, non-surgical treatments can correct strabismus. This eye surgery tightens or loosens the eye muscles for optimal alignment.
Vitrectomy: A pars plana vitrectomy treats problems with the retina or the vitreous (fluid in the eye). It may be used to treat retinal detachment, macular pucker, macular hole, diabetic retinopathy and certain eye infections and injuries.
Pneumatic retinopexy: An alternative to scleral buckling and vitrectomy for retinal detachment. Your ophthalmologist will use local anesthesia and inject a gas bubble into the eye. The bubble flattens the retina, and then a seal forms between the retina and the wall of the eye. You’ll need to keep your head in a certain position following the operation.
Scleral buckle: Often used for a retinal detachment. The operation involves securing a buckle to the wall of the eye, creating a scar with cryotherapy or laser to ensure that the retinal tear stays sealed, and usually draining the sub-retinal fluid.
Laser coagulation for diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration: This eye surgery involves using a laser to cauterize ocular blood vessels to stabilize vision and prevent future vision loss.
Talk to your eye doctor if you'd like more information on eye conditions that may require surgery.
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Laser refractive surgery or laser eye surgery to treat nearsightedess, farsightedness or astigmatism. There are three types of laser eye surgery available: PRK, LASIK and SMILE.
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Cataract surgery involves your ophthalmologist making a small incision and using phacoemulsification (ultrasound) to remove the cataract. Generally, you’ll wear a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) to help your replacement lens focus.
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Types of glaucoma surgery include laser treatments, trabeculectomy, tube shunt implantation, cyclophotocoagulation and MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery).
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A pars plana vitrectomy treats problems with the retina or the vitreous (fluid in the eye).
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Scleral buckle surgery involves securing a buckle to the wall of the eye, creating a scar with cryotherapy or laser to ensure that the retinal tear stays sealed, and usually draining the sub-retinal fluid.
Adherence:
Adhering to your medications, prescribed exercises or lifestyle changes (such as dietary changes, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, etc.) is essential to improving health outcomes successfully. Compliance to any prescribed treatment. A local ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system. Ophthalmologists work with patients in the prevention of eye disease and injury. In treating patients an ophthalmologist may also educate them on eye care, glasses and contact lenses, glaucoma, oculoplastics, refractive surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, laser eye surgery, canaloplasty, cataract surgery, corneal transplant surgery and vitreo-retinal surgery.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts usually develop slowly, causing a painless and gradual decrease in vision as the lens of the eye prevents light rays from properly passing through. Cataracts can affect both eyes or just one, and some patients experience mild symptoms, while others can barely see any shapes or movements. Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by a buildup of intraocular pressure (IOP).
Your eyes have clear liquid that flows in and out, but if you have glaucoma, this liquid doesn’t drain properly, causing this buildup of IOP pressure. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is made up of nerve fibers and transmits images from the eye to your brain.