It is very normal to feel a little scared and nervous when you think of eye surgery. Because our eyes are very precious and sensitive organs. But sometimes, to protect our vision or make it clearer, such surgeries are necessary. So today, let's talk about these eye surgeries, their types, and the things to be careful about before and after, in a simple way that you can understand.
Simply put, what is this eye surgery?
Eye surgery, or in medical terms, ocular/ophthalmic surgery, is the physical modification, repair, or removal of parts of the eye to treat a medical condition. It involves treating the eye, the muscles around the eye, and the nerves. These surgeries are performed by eye surgeons (Ophthalmologists).
In most cases, these surgeries can improve your vision or prevent your existing vision from getting worse.
What types of medical conditions require eye surgery?
Your doctor may recommend surgery for a variety of eye conditions, including:
- Cataracts: Clouding of the lens of the eye.
- Refractive Errors: Conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These are the main reasons why we wear glasses.
- Glaucoma: Increased pressure inside the eye, causing damage to vision.
- Retinal Detachment: The detachment of the membrane that provides vision at the back of the eye.
- Ptosis: The upper eyelid droops lower than normal.
- Eye Cancer.
- Strabismus: The eyes do not point in the same direction.
What are the main types of eye surgeries?
There are different types of surgeries to treat different medical conditions. Let's take a look at some of them.
| Type of surgery | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Vision correction surgery (e.g. LASIK, PRK) | Get rid of the need for glasses or contact lenses by changing the shape of the cornea with laser light. Many people also call this "laser surgery." |
| Cataract Surgery | Removing the cloudy lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens (Intraocular Lens) is a very common surgery in Sri Lanka and around the world. |
| Corneal Transplant / Keratoplasty | Removing the clear front part of the eye (cornea) that is damaged or diseased and replacing it with a healthy cornea. |
| Glaucoma Surgery | Reduce pressure inside the eye by creating new pathways for fluid to drain from the eye (e.g. Trabeculectomy) |
| Vitrectomy | Removing the jelly-like substance inside the eye (vitreous humor) and treating retinal problems. |
| Strabismus Surgery | Directing both eyes in the same direction by strengthening or weakening the muscles that move the eyes. |
What should we prepare before surgery?
As with any surgery, you will be given some advice before eye surgery.
- Stop eating and drinking: You will usually be asked to stop eating and drinking a few hours before surgery, often around midnight. Ask your doctor for the exact time.
- Medications: You may be asked to stop some of the medications you normally take (e.g., blood thinners) a few days before surgery. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking and ask exactly which medications you need to stop and when.
- Driver: After most eye surgeries, you can go home the same day. However, you will not be able to drive after the surgery. Therefore, it is essential to arrange for an adult to drive you home in advance.
What happens during the surgery?
You might think, "Oh, are you waking me up?" Yes, that's how it is most of the time.
Most eye surgeries are performed under local anesthesia , meaning you don't feel any pain, but you are awake. This is important because your head and eye need to be kept still during the surgery.
For things like cataract removal and laser surgery, sometimes only topical anesthesia is used.
However, for surgeries to repair injuries caused by serious accidents, or for surgeries on young children and for people who are very afraid of surgery, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia , meaning the patient is completely asleep.
How is the recovery time after surgery?
Recovery time varies depending on the type of surgery you had.
- Cataract surgery: It can take about 4-8 weeks to fully heal, but you can resume normal activities before then.
- Surgeries like LASIK: You may be able to return to work the same day, but it will take about 4 weeks to fully resume all activities.
- Vitrectomy: You will be unable to go to work or school for about 2-4 weeks. You will also need to keep your head still, as the doctor says.
- Glaucoma surgery: It can take about 2-6 weeks to heal.
- Eye transplant: It can take anywhere from 3 months to a year or more to regain full vision.
What are the risks and complications?
Most common eye surgeries are very safe. However, as with any surgery, there are some risks. These risks vary from surgery to surgery. Common ones that can occur include:
- Dry eyes
- Glare or halos when looking at light
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blurred vision
- Decreased vision
Before undergoing surgery, it is very important to thoroughly discuss the benefits and potential risks with your doctor.
When do you need to see the doctor soon?
The documents you are given when you go home after surgery will clearly state what to do in case of an emergency. If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
- If the pain is worse than expected .
- If there is excessive bleeding from the surgical site.
- If you have signs of infection (e.g., eye swelling, fever, pus draining from the wound).
- If you lose your clear vision or lose your vision completely.
Eyes are a very important part of our lives. So it's normal to feel scared when talking about eye surgery. But remember, with today's technology, most of these surgeries are very safe and successful. If you have any concerns or fears about surgery, talk to your eye surgeon about it openly.
Take-Home Message
- Don't be afraid of eye surgery. Most of the time, these are done to protect or improve your vision.
- Follow your doctor's instructions carefully before and after surgery. This is essential for a speedy recovery.
- It is essential to arrange in advance for someone to take you home after surgery.
- If you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding, signs of infection, or sudden loss of vision, seek medical advice immediately.
- Talk to your doctor about any questions or fears you may have before the surgery.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න