Poor eyesight not only removes a person from his usual circle, but also prevents him from living a fulfilling life and doing the things he enjoys.Modern ophthalmology continues to offer new ways to treat eye diseases, the main one being eye surgery.Let’s learn more about how to do it and its main features.
To do or not to do
There is a school of thought that modern eye surgeries are safe because they are performed as quickly, easily, and painlessly as possible.
However, the apparent simplicity of such interventions is deceptive, as there are risks associated with even any cosmetic surgery.
Most commonly, ophthalmologists provide surgery to correct the following very common eye conditions:
- cataract;
- Shortsighted;
- Vision.
Before a patient makes a decision, he should understand all the pros and cons of surgery.There are clear signs that eye surgery is needed.Such intervention occurs when:
- Occupational needs for optimal vision (military personnel, professional athletes, actors, etc.);
- Significant differences in the refractive power of the eyes (different amounts of myopia in the left and right eyes) that cannot be corrected by spectacles: No eye can tolerate spectacles with a diopter difference of more than 2.5.
The patient's desire to improve vision is acceptable if there are no direct contraindications to surgical intervention.
After all, better vision allows you to live 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 a cataract lens replacement.Women often decide to undergo eye surgery for aesthetic reasons, dreaming of getting rid of their glasses.
You should approach eye surgery issues during childhood with special caution.Children are not yet able to make good decisions on their own; instead, all possible risks of such an intervention should be assessed by an adult.
Types of eye surgery
There are many types of eye surgery.For example, eye surgery can eliminate many eye defects (myopia, lens opacification).Today, patients often undergo laser or ultrasound surgery for serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment or rupture.Surgical intervention in the lens, replacing the lens with an intraocular lens, is used to treat the progression of cataracts.Occasionally, ophthalmologists are forced to remove the contents of the eyeball or cornea during purulent inflammation (panophthalmitis).On the vitreous, if there is damage or blood in the vitreous (hematophthalmos), intervention is required.In this case, vitrectomy - removal of the vitreous body - is recommended.What types of eye surgical interventions are used in modern ophthalmology?
Let’s take a closer look at the main methods of eye surgery.
scleroplasty
This intervention is performed to strengthen the eyeball membrane.
Scleroplasty can stop the progression of myopia but does not restore vision.
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia and lasts about half an hour.It involves implanting scleral reinforcing material into the eyeball.For this purpose, silicone, biomaterials or tissues from the patient's own body are used.The flap then "joins" with the outer membrane of the eye, and blood vessels further grow into it.
Scleroplasty can have various levels of complexity (depending on the severity of the pathology): simple, simplified or complex.
A contraindication to scleroplasty is an allergic reaction in the patient to the material used.
vitrectomy
During vitrectomy, the surgeon is forced to remove (partially or completely) the vitreous humor from the eye.
Such complex interventions must be performed by highly qualified surgeons using high-tech equipment.
Indications for this treatment are:
- eye injuries;
- Vitreous hemorrhage;
- Vitreous opacity;
- Retinal rupture or detachment.
Vitrectomy is performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia.Usually 2-3 hours is enough.After the eye is secured with an eyelid expander, a micro-incision is made in the eye.The vitreous is then removed using special micro-instruments and an artificial lens is inserted in its place.Additionally, special liquid or silicone substitutes are used as vitreous substitutes.
However, this intervention may be contraindicated in certain circumstances.They are:
- Pregnant;
- blood disorders;
- High corneal opacity.
Laser coagulation of retina
Retinal laser photocoagulation is performed on an outpatient basis using a laser.The intervention lasts only about 20 minutes and provides pain relief in the form of drops.This surgery causes no blood loss.A lens is placed over the eye through which the laser is directed.At the same time, due to the high temperature, torn blood vessels or tissues in the eye become stuck together.The efficiency of this operation is very high (up to 70%).The patient can go home the next day.
Indications for surgery are:
- Retinal pathology (detachment, dystrophy, vascular pathology);
- Eye tumors;
- Central vein thrombosis.
strabismus correction
This intervention is usually performed in childhood (2 to 5 years old).Sometimes surgery is performed on adults if the strabismus is acquired or previously untreatable.Strabismus surgery lasts up to 30 minutes and involves restoring the normal position of the eyeball.At the same time, the aesthetic problem of the patient's appearance is solved and the vision is restored.
For this pathology, there are two types of surgery:
- Strengthening: Whether the eye muscles need stretching;
- Relaxation: If your eye muscles need to relax.
Intervention is performed using local anesthesia using an eyelid expander.Patients are usually discharged from the hospital the same day as surgery and recover within a week.
The instructions for this fix are:
- Impaired ability to move extraocular muscles (paralysis or paresis);
- Any degree of strabismus.
Cross-linking
Cross-linking refers to pathological surgery on the cornea.This is done to strengthen and strengthen the ligaments of the corneal tissue.
This intervention is performed under local anesthesia.In this case, part of the cornea is removed and the eye itself is irradiated to thicken the corneal layer.Protective lenses are then placed over the eyes.The patient was discharged from the hospital 2-3 days later.The results of surgery usually last 10 years.
Perform similar operations in the following situations:
- Degenerative dystrophic processes of the cornea;
- Corneal convex area;
- Keratoconus.
Eye surgery to treat glaucoma
This eye surgery is used when medications for glaucoma have not responded.
Modern clinics primarily use bladeless laser procedures because they are less invasive, painless, and have minimal complications.
It uses a laser beam to create a hole to remove excess fluid from the eye.For the open-angle form, nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy is used.In this case, the corneal layer is artificially thinned to reduce intraocular pressure.
There is a small risk of complications from this intervention.However, the therapeutic effectiveness of this surgery may decrease over time.
cataract removal
This is one of the most common operations.In this case, there are methods that can be used to completely remove the lens and replace it with the capsule (or without the capsule) with an artificial lens.
The most modern cataract treatments use laser or ultrasound to remove the cloudy lens.
An intraocular lens is implanted to replace the damaged lens.The procedure was uneventful and lasted about 15 minutes.
This type of cataract intervention is usually performed when conservative treatments have failed or when there is a progressive cataract (posterior capsule).More commonly, mature cataracts are treated with surgery.
Postoperative treatment lasts approximately 1.5 months.This is especially important for implantation of the lens and preventing its rejection (limiting heavy lifting, eliminating thermal procedures, etc.).
laser vision correction
This is the most popular type of eye intervention to improve vision.Its effectiveness is unique – almost 99%.
The purpose of laser calibration is to:
- Farsightedness:
- Shortsighted;
- astigmatism.
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia.Next, a laser is used to grind the corneal layer to the desired level.
While this surgery has many fans, it also comes with a number of taboos:
- Eye diseases (cataracts, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, inflammatory diseases, etc.);
- Progression of the patient's myopia (diabetes, herpes, neurodermatitis, thyroid problems, etc.)
The main methods of laser correction are LASIK and PRK, as well as many variations of these methods.
LASIK surgery is particularly favored by ophthalmologists because of its short postoperative time and painlessness.
The surgery on both eyes lasts about 20 minutes and uses local anesthesia.
The inconvenience to the patient is that he faces "corneal syndrome" during the postoperative period.
In this case, the following symptoms occur:
- photophobia;
- pain, cutting;
- shed tears.
Medications (pain relievers, steroids) can help cope with such symptoms.The postoperative period includes many restrictions (going to saunas and baths, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding heavy lifting, no pregnancy for one year).
recovery after surgery
The most important phase after any surgical intervention is the postoperative period.
If the prescribed system is not followed, the consequences can be quite tragic.Let's consider the important basic recommendations that patients should follow after such surgery:
- It is forbidden to rub your eyes with your hands in the first few days after surgery. You must wipe your eyes with a cotton swab of boiling water instead of washing your face.You can use facial cleanser after one month.
- When going out, you need to wear eye protection or goggles to prevent dust particles from entering your eyes.
- You can just wash your hair without applying shampoo to your face.
- It is prohibited to read, drive, or watch TV within one week after surgery.
- It is recommended to use blueberry preparations to quickly restore vision.
- When outdoors it is important to use tinted glasses (for UV protection) for 2-4 weeks.
- The use of decorative eye cosmetics is allowed within one month after surgery, as the intrusion of cosmetic particles is very undesirable.
- Doctors do not recommend getting pregnant during the first three months after the intervention.
- Typically, doctors schedule consultations at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.
- You can only start working after your vision has fully recovered after surgery (usually 2-3 weeks later).At the same time, it is also important to avoid excessive eye strain (secretaries, accountants, programmers, etc.).
- During the year, you should not sunbathe, be around pets or children, or be active in sports (to avoid corneal injury).
complication
Complications can occur after any eye surgery, regardless of the type.Such complications may be:
- lens shift;
- Seams diverge;
- increased intraocular pressure;
- retinal detachment;
- blurred vision;
- Inflammation of the eye membrane;
- Corneal opacification;
- Vitreous hemorrhage;
- Secondary cataract.
Complications after surgery require serious and expensive treatment.You should not have any eye surgery lightly, especially if you can live without it.
Most people still decide to undergo surgical treatment of eye diseases and subsequently receive good results.It is important to choose your treatment clinic carefully and contact only true professionals in order to minimize the hassle during eye surgery.