Eye operations

Eye operations, also known as ocular surgery, are surgical procedures performed on the eyes. The human eye is a complex and fragile organ so eye surgery is performed with extreme caution.

Eye operations are conducted for various reasons like correcting vision, removing cataracts etc. Most eye surgery involves reshaping the cornea so that light passing through the eye can focus on the retina correctly whereas other surgical procedures replace the natural lens of the eye.

Surgery performed to correct vision lets an individual see better and clearer compared to wearing glasses or contact lens.

Types of Eye Operations

The following are the various kinds of eye operations performed on an individual,

• LASIK or Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis is a surgical treatment procedure for those affected by vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. In this procedure, the eye specialist creates a flap in the outer layer of the cornea to access the tissue underneath, which is then reshaped with the help of laser. This is done so that light rays entering the eyes are properly focused on the retina, thus correcting the vision. In this procedure, computer imaging is also used to obtain the detailed image of the cornea to use as a guide.
• PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy is a surgical procedure performed to treat moderate vision problems in the eye. In this procedure, the surface of the cornea is reshaped with the help of laser using computer imaging to guide the surgeon.
• LASEK or Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis is a surgical procedure similar to PRK surgery.
• RLE is short for Refractive Lens Exchange and is used to correct extreme vision problems, dry eyes or other minor complications of the cornea. This procedure is similar to that of cataract surgery where a small cut is made on the edge of the cornea through which the natural eye lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens implant.
• PRELEX, or Presbyopic Lens Exchange, is where the natural eye lens is replaced with a multifocal lens. This procedure is performed on those with presbyopia or loss of flexibility of the eye.
• INTACS, also called Intracorneal Ring Segments, is performed to treat keratoconus that is the irregular shape of the cornea resulting in vision loss. In this procedure, a small incision is made on the cornea to place two crescent shaped plastic rings on the outer edge, which will flatten the cornea and focus the light properly onto the retina.
• Phakic Intraocular Lens Implants are performed on patients with extreme nearsightedness, which cannot be corrected by LASIK or PRK. In this case, a small incision is made on the edge of the cornea through which the lens are attached to the iris or implanted behind the pupil. In this procedure, the natural eye lens stays intact.
• LRI, also known as Astigmatic Keratotomy, is a surgical procedure performed on patients with astigmatism. In this procedure, one or two incisions are made on the steep edges of the cornea which helps it relax and make the cornea more round. This surgery is sometimes done along with other laser surgeries for clearer and better vision.
  
  

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Authored By Dr. Lalit Kumar