Almost every part of the body is susceptible to injury or wear and tear as one ages. When this happens, different kinds of treatment can heal the injury or decrease symptoms. In some cases, surgery may be necessary. The eyes are no different. There are times when the eye becomes injured, or there is a decrease in vision health. In either of these instances, an eye surgeon may need to perform surgery.
Here are three procedures eye surgeons perform.
1. Corneal Transplant Surgery
Each eye contains a cornea, which is the outermost layer of the eye that functions as a lens. It's the cornea that focuses light and allows you to see clearly. The cornea also serves as a protective barrier against infections. A damaged cornea often results in vision loss. Getting part of the cornea replaced with donated corneal tissue is called corneal transplant surgery.
Here are some other instances when eye surgeons might need to perform this type of surgery:
The cornea might also have an ulcer that does not respond to any other type of treatment. Any of these corneal issues can result in vision loss, which is why a corneal transplant is necessary.
2. Laser Eye Surgery
One of the most common types of laser eye surgery is LASIK. Eye surgeons perform this surgery on candidates who wish to improve their vision. During this procedure, an eye surgeon uses a cutting laser to change the shape of the cornea. This type of laser eye surgery treats the following kinds of refractive errors:
After these refractive errors are corrected with LASIK eye surgery, it's usually no longer necessary to wear glasses or contact lenses.
3. Glaucoma Surgery
Glaucoma is an eye condition in which the optic nerve becomes damaged. It's usually caused by elevated eye pressure. This eye condition causes vision loss. There are different types of glaucoma, and some of them can be treated with glaucoma surgery.
To perform a procedure called a trabeculectomy, an eye surgeon creates a tiny opening in the eye and drains excess fluid in order to relieve eye pressure. Other types of eye surgeries used to treat this condition include glaucoma implant surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).
For more information on what surgeries eye surgeons perform, contact a doctor near you.
Share19 November 2021
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