Poor eyesight not only throws a person out of his usual circle, but also prevents him from living a full life and doing what he loves.Modern ophthalmology constantly offers new methods of treating eye diseases, the main of which is eye surgery.Learn more about the surgical methods and their main features.
To do or not
There is an opinion that modern eye surgeries are guaranteed to be safe because they are performed as quickly, easily and painlessly as possible.
However, the apparent simplicity of such procedures is deceptive, as every cosmetic operation also carries a risk.
Most often, ophthalmologists offer surgical procedures to correct very common eye diseases such as:
- Cataract;
- Myopia;
- Foresight.
Before making a decision, the patient should know all the advantages and disadvantages of surgery.There are clear indications as to which eye operations are necessary.Such interventions are carried out in the following cases:
- professional need for the best possible vision (military, professional athletes, actors, etc.);
- a noticeable difference in eye refraction (with different degrees of myopia in the right and left eyes) that cannot be corrected with glasses: no eye can tolerate glasses with a difference of more than 2.5 diopters.
Patients' desire to improve vision is acceptable if there are no direct contraindications to surgical intervention.
Because higher visual acuity enables a better quality of life.After vision is restored, a person can learn new skills: for example, driving a car or mastering a computer after replacing a lens due to cataracts.Women often choose eye surgery for aesthetic reasons and dream of getting rid of their glasses.
You should approach the issue of eye surgery in children with particular care.The child is not yet able to make the right decision on his own; instead, all possible risks of such an intervention should be assessed by adults.
Types of eye surgeries
There are many types of eye surgeries.For example, eye surgery eliminates many eye defects (myopia, lens opacity).Nowadays, patients are often offered surgical treatment using laser or ultrasound for serious eye diseases such as retinal detachment or retinal rupture.When cataracts progress, surgical procedures on the lens are used to replace it with an artificial one.Sometimes with purulent inflammation (panophthalmitis), ophthalmologists are forced to remove the contents of the eyeball or cornea.Intervention on the vitreous body is indicated if it is damaged or if there is blood (hemophthalmos).In this case, a vitrectomy is suggested - removal of the vitreous body.Which eye surgical procedures are used in modern ophthalmology?
Let's take a closer look at the main methods of eye surgery.
Scleroplasty
This procedure is performed to strengthen the membrane of the eyeball.
Scleroplasty can stop the progression of myopia but cannot restore vision.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia and lasts about half an hour.A flap made of scleral-reinforcing material is inserted into the eyeball.For this purpose, silicone, biological material or tissue from the patient himself is used.The flap then “couples” with the outer membrane of the eye and further growth of the blood vessels occurs.
Scleroplasty can have different levels of complexity (depending on the severity of the pathology): simple, simplified or complex.
A contraindication to scleroplasty is an allergic reaction by the patient to the material used.
Vitrectomy
During a vitrectomy, the surgeon is forced to remove (partially or completely) the vitreous humor from the eye.
This complex procedure must be performed by a highly qualified surgeon using high-tech equipment.
Indications for such treatment are:
- eye injury;
- Hemorrhage into the vitreous cavity;
- clouding of the vitreous body;
- Retinal rupture or detachment.
The vitrectomy is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.Usually 2-3 hours are enough for this.After fixing the eye with an eyelid dilator, a microincision is made.The vitreous body is then removed using special miniature instruments and an artificial lens is inserted in its place.A special liquid or silicone substitute is also used as a vitreous body replacement.
However, such an intervention may be contraindicated under certain conditions.They are:
- Pregnancy;
- blood diseases;
- high corneal opacity.
Laser coagulation of the retina
Laser photocoagulation of the retina is performed on an outpatient basis using a laser.The procedure only takes about 20 minutes and pain relief comes in the form of drops.There is no blood loss with this type of surgery.A lens is placed over the eye through which the laser is directed.At the same time, the high temperature causes the torn vessels or tissue in the eye to stick together.The effectiveness of this operation is high (up to 70%).The patient is allowed to go home the next day.
Indications for surgery are:
- Retinal pathology (detachment, dystrophy, vascular pathology);
- eye tumors;
- Thrombosis of the central vein.
Strabismus correction
This procedure is most often carried out in children (from 2 to 5 years).Sometimes the operation is also performed in adults if the strabismus is acquired or has not previously been treated.Strabismus surgery lasts up to 30 minutes and consists of restoring the normal position of the eyeball.At the same time, the aesthetic problem of the patient's appearance is solved and vision is restored.
There are two types of operations for this pathology:
- Strengthening: when the eye muscle needs to be stretched;
- relaxing: when the eye muscle needs to be relaxed.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia using an eyelid dilator.Usually the patient is discharged on the day of surgery and recovers within a week.
Notes for this correction are:
- limited mobility (paralysis or paresis) of the eye muscles;
- any degree of strabismus.
Networking
Crosslinking refers to operations on the cornea of the eye in the event of pathologies.This is done to strengthen and strengthen the ligaments of the corneal tissue.
This procedure is performed under local anesthesia.Part of the cornea is cut off and the eye itself is irradiated to thicken the corneal layer.A protective lens is then placed over the eye.The patient is discharged after 2-3 days.Normally the effect of the operation lasts 10 years.
A similar operation occurs when:
- degenerative-dystrophic processes of the cornea;
- protruding areas of the cornea;
- Keratoconus.
Eye surgery to treat glaucoma
This eye surgery is indicated when medical treatment for glaucoma is ineffective.
Modern clinics predominantly use laser operations without knives because they are less traumatic, painless and have few complications.
A laser beam is used to create a hole to remove excess fluid from the eye.In the open-angle form, non-penetrating deep sclerectomy is used.The corneal layer is artificially thinned to reduce intraocular pressure.
The risk of complications with this procedure is minimal.However, the therapeutic effect of such an operation may diminish over time.
Cataract removal
This is one of the most common operations.In this case, methods are used in which the lens is completely removed and replaced with an artificial lens along with the capsule (or without it).
The most modern method for cataracts is to remove the cloudy lens using laser or ultrasound.
An artificial lens is used to replace the damaged lens.The process goes smoothly and takes about 15 minutes.
Such interventions for cataracts are usually carried out when conservative treatment is ineffective or when cataracts are progressive (posterior capsular cataracts).Older cataracts are more often treated surgically.
Postoperative treatment lasts approximately 1.5 months.This is especially important for lens ingrowth and prevention of its rejection (limiting heavy lifting, eliminating thermal interventions, etc.).
Laser vision correction
This is the most popular type of ophthalmic intervention to improve visual acuity.Its effectiveness is unique – almost 99%.
Laser correction is carried out for:
- Farsightedness:
- Myopia;
- Astigmatism.
This operation is performed under local anesthesia.The corneal layer is then sanded down to the desired level using a laser.
Although this operation has many fans, it has many contraindications:
- Eye diseases (cataracts, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, inflammatory diseases, etc.);
- Progression of the patient's myopia (diabetes mellitus, herpes, neurodermatitis, thyroid problems, etc.)
The main methods of laser correction are LASIK and PRK as well as many variants of these methods.
The LASIK method is particularly preferred by ophthalmologists due to its short postoperative time and painlessness.
This operation takes about 20 minutes for both eyes and is performed under local anesthesia.
The inconvenience for the patient is that he is faced with “corneal syndrome” in the postoperative stage.
This is a condition in which the following symptoms are observed:
- photophobia;
- pain, cutting;
- Tear flow.
Medications (analgesics, steroids) help to cope with such manifestations.The postoperative period involves a number of restrictions (visiting saunas and baths, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding heavy loads, refraining from pregnancy for a year).
Rehabilitation after surgery
After any surgical procedure, the most important phase is the postoperative period.
If you do not adhere to the prescribed regime, the consequences can be quite tragic.Let's consider the basic recommendations that are important for the patient after such an operation:
- In the first days after the operation, it is forbidden to rub your eyes with your hands, and washing your face must be replaced with wiping with a swab of boiled water.After a month you can use facial soap.
- When you go outside, a blindfold or goggles are required to prevent dust particles from entering your eyes.
- You can only wash your hair without getting shampoo on your face.
- Reading, driving and watching television are prohibited for one week after the operation.
- To quickly restore vision, the use of blueberry preparations is recommended.
- When outdoors, it is important to wear tinted glasses (for UV protection) for 2-4 weeks.
- The use of decorative eye cosmetics is allowed no earlier than a month after the operation, since the penetration of cosmetic particles is extremely undesirable.
- Doctors advise against becoming pregnant in the first three months after the procedure.
- Typically, the doctor schedules consultations 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.
- You can start working after the operation only after full vision recovery (usually after 2-3 weeks).At the same time, it is important to avoid excessive eye strain (secretaries, accountants, programmers, etc.).
- During the year, you should not sunbathe, have contact with pets or children, and do not engage in active sports (to avoid corneal injuries).
Complications
Regardless of the type, complications are possible after any eye surgery.Such complications can be:
- lens shift;
- seam divergence;
- increased intraocular pressure;
- retinal detachment;
- blurred vision;
- inflammation of the eye membranes;
- corneal opacity;
- vitreous hemorrhage;
- secondary cataract.
Complications after surgery require serious and expensive treatment.You should not take eye surgery lightly, especially if you can avoid it.
Most people still choose surgical treatment for eye diseases and subsequently achieve excellent results.It is important to carefully choose a clinic for treatment and contact only real professionals in order to minimize problems during eye surgery.