Poor vision not only knocks 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 for the treatment of eye pathologies, the main one being eye surgery.Let's learn more about the methods of operations and their main features.
To do or not
There is an opinion that modern eye surgeries are guaranteed to be safe, as they are performed as quickly, easily and painlessly as possible.
However, the apparent simplicity of such interventions is deceptive, as any cosmetic surgery is also a risk.
Most often, ophthalmologists offer surgery to correct such very common eye diseases as:
- cataract;
- myopia;
- foresight.
Before the patient makes a decision, he should know about all the pros and cons of the operation.There are clear indications for which eye surgery is necessary.Such interventions are carried out in the following cases:
- professional need for the best possible vision (military, professional athlete, actor, etc.);
- an obvious difference in the refraction of the eye (with different degrees of myopia in the right and left eye), which cannot be corrected with glasses: neither eye can tolerate glasses with a difference of more than 2.5 diopters.
The desire of patients to improve vision is acceptable if there are no direct contraindications for 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 a cataract lens.Often women decide to undergo eye surgery for aesthetic reasons, dreaming of getting rid of glasses.
The issue of eye surgery in childhood should be approached with particular care.The child is not yet able to make the right decision on his own, and instead, all the possible risks of such an intervention must be assessed by adults.
Types of eye surgeries
There are many types of eye surgery.For example, eye surgery eliminates many eye defects (myopia, lens darkness).Nowadays, patients are often offered laser or ultrasound surgical treatment for serious eye pathologies such as retinal detachment or rupture.Surgical interventions in the lens, replacing it with an artificial one, are used in the progression of cataracts.Sometimes ophthalmologists are forced 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 proposed - removal of the vitreous body.What types of eye surgery 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 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 reinforcing material into the eye socket.For this purpose, silicone, biological material or tissue from the patient himself is used.Then, the bump "mates" with the outer membrane of the eye and further growth of blood vessels in it occurs.
Scleroplasty can be of several degrees of complexity (depending on the severity of the pathology): simple, simplified or complex.
A contraindication for scleroplasty is the patient's allergic reaction 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 intervention must be performed by a highly qualified surgeon using high-tech equipment.
Indications for such treatment are:
- eye injury;
- hemorrhage in the vitreous cavity;
- opacification of glass;
- retinal tear or detachment.
Vitrectomy is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.Usually 2-3 hours are enough for this.After fixing the eye with an eyelid dilator, a micro-incision is made in it.Then, using special miniature instruments, the vitreous body is removed and an artificial lens is inserted in its place.Also, a special liquid or silicone substitute is used as a glass substitute.
However, such an intervention may be contraindicated in some conditions.They are:
- pregnancy;
- blood diseases;
- high degree of transparency of the cornea.
Laser coagulation of the retina
Laser photocoagulation of the retina is performed on an outpatient basis using a laser.The intervention lasts only about 20 minutes, and pain relief is applied in the form of drops.With this type of surgery, there is 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, the torn vessels or tissues in the eye are glued 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;
- central vein thrombosis.
Strabismus correction
Most often this intervention is done in childhood (from 2 to 5 years old).Sometimes the operation is also performed in adults if the strabismus is acquired, or could not be treated before.The operation for strabismus takes up to 30 minutes and consists in 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 muscle needs to be stretched;
- relaxant: if the eye muscle needs to be relaxed.
The intervention is performed under local anesthesia using an eyelid dilator.The patient is usually discharged on the day of surgery and recovers within a week.
Indications for this correction are:
- impaired mobility (paralysis or paresis) of extraocular muscles;
- any degree of strabismus.
Crosslinking
Cross-linking refers to operations on the ocular cornea for pathologies.This is done to strengthen and strengthen the ligaments of the corneal tissue.
This intervention is performed with local anesthesia.In this case, part of the cornea is cut and the eye itself is irradiated to thicken the corneal layer.A protective lens is then placed over the eye.After 2-3 days the patient is discharged.Usually the effect of the operation lasts 10 years.
A similar operation is performed when:
- degenerative-dystrophic processes of the cornea;
- swollen areas of the cornea;
- keratoconus.
Eye surgery to treat glaucoma
This eye surgery is indicated for the ineffective treatment of glaucoma with drugs.
Modern clinics mainly use laser operations without a knife, as they are low trauma, painless and have a minimum of complications.
This uses a laser beam to create a hole to remove excess fluid from the eye.For the open-angle form, 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, methods are used for the complete removal of the lens and its replacement, together with the capsule (or without it) with an artificial lens.
The most modern method for cataract is to remove the cloudy lens using laser or ultrasound.
An artificial lens is inserted to replace the damaged one.The operation is painless and takes about 15 minutes.
Such interventions for cataracts are usually performed when conservative treatment is ineffective or for progressive types of cataracts (posterior capsular).Most often, mature cataracts are treated surgically.
The regime after the operation lasts about 1.5 months.It is especially important for lens transplantation and prevention of its rejection (restriction of lifting weights, elimination of 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 performed for:
- foresight:
- myopia;
- astigmatism.
This operation is performed under local anesthesia.The corneal layer is then lasered to the desired level.
Although this operation has many fans, it has many contraindications:
- eye pathologies (cataract, 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 varieties of these methods.
The LASIK method is particularly preferred by ophthalmologists because of the short postoperative period and without pain.
This operation takes about 20 minutes for both eyes, using local anesthesia.
The concern for the patient is that in the postoperative phase he faces "corneal syndrome".
This is a condition in which the following symptoms are observed:
- photophobia;
- pain, cut;
- lacrimation
Medicines (analgesics, steroids) help to cope with such manifestations.The postoperative period includes a number of restrictions (visiting saunas and baths, limiting alcohol, avoiding heavy lifting, abstaining from pregnancy for one year).
Rehabilitation 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 the patient to follow after any such operation:
- In the first days after the operation, it is forbidden to rub the eyes with hands, and washing the face should be replaced by wiping with a swab with boiled water.After a month you will be able to use face soap.
- When going outside, glasses or goggles are required to prevent dust particles from entering your eyes.
- You can wash your hair alone without shampooing your face.
- For a week after the operation, it is forbidden to read, drive a car or watch TV.
- It is recommended to use cranberry preparations to quickly restore vision.
- 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 one month after the operation, since the entry of cosmetic particles is extremely undesirable.
- Doctors do not recommend getting pregnant for the first three months after the intervention.
- Typically, the doctor schedules consultations 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.
- You can start working after the operation only after the full restoration of vision (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, or actively engage in sports (to avoid corneal damage).
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;
- fogging of the cornea;
- vitreous hemorrhage;
- secondary cataract.
Complications after surgery require serious and expensive treatment.You should not take any eye surgery lightly, especially if you can do without it.
Most people still decide to undergo surgical treatment of eye diseases and then get excellent results.It is important to carefully choose a clinic for treatment and contact only real professionals in order to reduce problems during eye surgery to a minimum.