Poor eyesight not only knocks a person out of the ordinary circle, but also prevents him from living a full life and doing what he likes.Modern ophthalmology always offers new methods to treat eye pathologies, the main one being eye surgery.Let's know more about its operation method and main features.
Do you want to do it or not?
There is an opinion that modern eye surgery is guaranteed to be safe, because it is carried out as quickly, easily and painlessly as possible.
However, the apparent simplicity of such interventions is misleading, because even any cosmetic surgery is a risk.
Often, ophthalmologists offer surgery to correct very common eye diseases such as:
- cataracts;
- myopia;
- farsighted
Before the patient makes a decision, he should know about all the pros and cons of surgery.There are clear indications for necessary eye surgery.Such interventions are carried out in the following cases:
- professional needs for the best vision (military, professional athletes, actors, etc.);
- significant difference in refraction of the eye (with different degrees of myopia in the right and left eye), which cannot be corrected with glasses: no eye can tolerate glasses with a difference of more than 2.5 diopters.
The patient's desire to improve vision is acceptable if there are no direct contraindications to surgical intervention.
After all, higher visual acuity allows you to live a better quality of life.After restoring vision, a person can learn new skills: for example, driving a car or mastering a computer after replacing lenses for cataracts.Women often decide to undergo eye surgery for aesthetic reasons, dreaming of getting rid of glasses.
You should approach the issue of eye surgery in childhood especially with caution.The child is not yet able to make the right decision on his own, and instead, all possible risks of such intervention should be assessed by an adult.
Types of eye surgery
There are many types of ophthalmic surgery.For example, eye surgery eliminates many eye defects (myopia, lens opacities).Nowadays, patients are often offered surgical treatment with laser or ultrasound for severe eye pathologies such as retinal detachment or rupture.Surgical intervention on the lens, replacing it with an artificial one, is used in the development of cataracts.Sometimes ophthalmologists have to remove the contents of the eyeball or cornea during purulent inflammation (panophthalmitis).In the vitreous body, intervention is indicated if it is damaged or if there is blood (hemophthalmos).In this case, vitrectomy is suggested - removal of the vitreous body.What types of eye surgery interventions are used in modern ophthalmology?
Let's take a closer look at the main methods of eye surgery.
Scleroplasty
This intervention is done to strengthen the membrane of the eyeball.
Scleroplasty can stop the progression of myopia, but it cannot restore vision.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia and lasts about half an hour.It involves inserting a flap of scleral strengthening material into the eyeball.For this purpose, silicone, biological material or tissue from the patient himself is used.After that, the flap "pairs" with the outer eye membrane and further growth of blood vessels into it occurs.
Scleroplasty can be of several degrees of complexity (depending on the severity of the pathology): simple, simple or complex.
Contraindication to scleroplasty is the patient's allergic reaction to the material used.
Vitrectomy
During a vitrectomy, the surgeon has to remove (partially or completely) the vitreous humor from the eye.
These complex interventions must be performed by highly qualified surgeons using high-tech equipment.
Indications for such treatment are:
- eye injury;
- bleeding into the vitreous cavity;
- vitreous opacity;
- retinal break or detachment.
Vitrectomy is performed with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.Usually 2-3 hours is enough for this.After fixing the eye with an eyelid dilator, a micro-incision is made in it.Then, using a special small instrument, the vitreous body is removed, and an artificial lens is inserted in its place.Also, special liquid or silicone substitutes are used as vitreous substitutes.
However, such interventions may be contraindicated in some circumstances.They are:
- pregnancy;
- blood diseases;
- high degree of corneal opacity.
Laser freezing of the retina
Retinal laser photocoagulation is performed on an outpatient basis using a laser.The intervention only lasts about 20 minutes, and pain relief is used in the form of drops.There is no blood loss with this type of operation.A lens is placed over the eye where the laser is directed.At the same time, due to the high temperature, the torn vessels or tissues in the eye are glued together.The effectiveness of this operation is high (up to 70%).The patient was allowed to go home the next day.
Indications for surgery are:
- retinal pathology (detachment, dystrophy, vascular pathology);
- eye tumors;
- central venous thrombosis.
Strabismus correction
Often this intervention is carried out in childhood (from 2 to 5 years).Sometimes surgery is also done in adults if strabismus is acquired, or it could not be treated before.Surgery for strabismus 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.
For this pathology, there are two types of surgery:
- strengthening: if the eye muscles need to be stretched;
- relax: if the eye muscles need to be relaxed.
The intervention is performed with local anesthesia using an eyelid dilator.Usually the patient is discharged on the day of surgery, and he recovers within a week.
Hints for this fix are:
- impaired mobility (paralysis or paresis) of extraocular muscles;
- any degree of strabismus.
Cross link
Cross-linking refers to operations on the ocular cornea for pathology.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 cut, and the eye itself is irradiated to thicken the corneal layer.Protective lenses are then placed over the eyes.After 2-3 days the patient is discharged.Usually the effects of the operation last for 10 years.
A similar operation is performed when:
- corneal degenerative-dystrophic process;
- bulging area of the cornea;
- keratoconus.
Eye surgery to treat glaucoma
This eye surgery is indicated for the treatment of glaucoma medications that are ineffective.
Modern clinics mainly use laser surgery without a knife, because it is low trauma, painless and has minimal complications.
This uses a laser beam to create a hole to remove excess fluid from the eye.For open-angle forms, non-penetrating deep sclerectomy is used.In this case, the corneal layer is artificially thinned to lower the intraocular pressure.
The risk of complications with this intervention is minimal.However, the therapeutic effect of such an operation may decrease over time.
Cataract removal
This is one of the most common operations.In this case, a method is used to completely remove the lens and replace it, together with the capsule (or without it), with an artificial lens.
The most modern method for cataracts is the removal of cloudy lenses using laser or ultrasound.
An artificial lens is inserted to replace the damaged lens.The operation is smooth and lasts about 15 minutes.
Such interventions for cataracts are usually performed when conservative treatment is ineffective or for progressive types of cataracts (posterior capsular).Often, mature cataracts are treated surgically.
The postoperative regimen lasts about 1.5 months.It is very important for the installation of lenses and the prevention of their rejection (limiting heavy lifting, eliminating thermal procedures, 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.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia.Next, the corneal layer is ground with a laser to the desired level.
Although this operation has many fans, it has many contraindications:
- eye pathology (cataract, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, inflammatory diseases, etc.);
- the development 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 various types of these methods.
The LASIK method is preferred by ophthalmologists because of the short and painless postoperative period.
The surgery takes about 20 minutes for both eyes, using local anesthesia.
The difficulty for the patient is that at the post-operative stage he is faced with "corneal syndrome".
This is a condition in which the following symptoms are observed:
- photophobia;
- pain, cutting;
- lacrimation.
Medicines (analgesics, steroids) help to cope with such manifestations.The postoperative period includes several restrictions (visiting saunas and baths, limiting alcohol, avoiding heavy lifting, withholding pregnancy for a year).
Recovery after surgery
After any surgical intervention, the most important stage is the postoperative period.
If you do not follow the prescribed regime, the consequences can be quite tragic.Let's consider the basic recommendations that are important for patients to follow after such an operation:
- In the first days after surgery, it is forbidden to rub your eyes with your hands, and washing your face must be replaced by wiping with a brush with boiled water.You will be able to use the face soap after a month.
- When going outside, goggles or goggles are required to prevent dust particles from entering your eyes.
- You can wash your hair alone without using shampoo on your face.
- For a week after the operation, it is forbidden to read, drive a car or watch TV.
- It is recommended to use blueberry preparations to restore vision quickly.
- When outdoors, it is important to wear tinted glasses (for UV protection) for 2-4 weeks.
- The use of decorative cosmetics for the eyes is allowed no earlier than a month after the operation, because the inclusion of cosmetic particles is highly undesirable.
- Doctors do not recommend getting pregnant during the first three months after the intervention.
- Usually, doctors schedule consultations 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.
- You can start working after surgery only after complete recovery of vision (usually after 2-3 weeks).At the same time, it is important to avoid excessive eye strain (secretaries, accountants, programmers, etc.)
- Throughout the year, you should not sunbathe, come into contact with pets or children, or actively engage in sports (to avoid corneal injury).
Complications
Regardless of the type, complications may occur after any eye surgery.Such complications may be:
- lens shift;
- stitch difference;
- increased intraocular pressure;
- retinal detachment;
- blurred vision;
- inflammation of the eye membrane;
- corneal turbidity;
- vitreous hemorrhage;
- secondary cataract.
Complications after surgery require serious and expensive treatment.You should never take any eye surgery for granted, especially if you can do it without surgery.
Most people still decide to undergo eye surgery and receive excellent results.It is important to carefully choose a clinic for treatment and contact only real professionals to reduce problems during eye surgery to a minimum.