There are numerous types of eye surgery, but the most common types are cornea surgeries like LASIK or a corneal transplant, cataract extraction surgery, and retinal surgery including retinal detachment repair and laser photocoagulation for leaky blood vessels. Each of these surgeries has different functions and is used for different conditions. Understanding why surgery is needed is an important step in decision-making about your own eye health.
Corneal Eye Surgery
The cornea is the front of the eye which is the clear, smooth surface in the center.
The function of the cornea is to bend light and focus it in the back of the eye on the retina.
Surgery on the cornea is done to either change the prescription power of the eye (such as LASIK) or to repair and replace a damaged cornea (such as a corneal transplant).
LASIK and other refractive surgeries such as PRK and SMILE are used to reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses
These surgeries change the shape of the cornea to adjust the focusing power and help the light focus directly on the retina.
Corneal transplants can be complete — a penetrating keratoplasty — or partial — a DSEK, DMEK, or DSAEK. A full-thickness transplant is a major procedure and is reserved for conditions that are visually threatening or at risk of having severe complications.
Partial thickness transplants can be used for less threatening conditions as they have a much better postoperative prognosis. These procedures are used for eye conditions such as Fuch’s dystrophy, keratoconus, and endothelial basement membrane dystrophy.
Cataract Surgery
A cataract forms when the crystalline lens in the eye becomes cloudy and rigid.
There are different forms of cataracts including nuclear sclerosis, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataracts.
Each of these types of cataracts is treated with the same surgical procedure called a cataract extraction surgery.
In this procedure, the crystalline lens is removed from the eye and replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens implant.
Using this procedure, the cataract will be removed completely and will not reform on the lens implant.
Cataract surgery is a very safe procedure that is commonly performed and lasts only minutes in the operating room.
Since this surgery is so safe and readily performed, it is common to elect for this option once the cataract begins to impact vision or activities of living such as driving.
Retinal Eye Surgeries
The retina is the back of the eye which captures light as it is focused into the eye.
The retina then transmits the information to the brain to form vision and perception.
Any problem with the retina can lead to vision loss and must be treated with care.
One serious condition is retinal detachment. This occurs when the retina separates from the underlying tissue and is no longer connected to the nerves and brain.
To repair a retinal detachment, surgery is needed. In mild cases, retinal laser surgery can be done to repair the detachment.
However, in more severe cases, either a scleral buckle or gas bubble vitrectomy may be needed.
These procedures are invasive surgeries that come with significant risks but are necessary due to the imminent damage that can be produced from a retinal detachment.
Another common type of retinal surgery uses a laser to stop leakage from blood vessels. Conditions like diabetes and vein occlusion scan create leaky blood vessels that require a laser to stop the leaking and prevent damage to the eye.
Dr. Nathan Abraham and the staff of the Abraham Eye Center specialize in cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, and various corneal surgeries. Call our ophthalmologist in Valencia, CA today at 661-977-7377 or schedule an appointment online if you are interested in learning more about the different types of eye surgery. Our eye doctor provides only the highest quality eye care and surgical services amongst eye doctors in the Valencia California area.
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