Reconstructive eye surgery refers to a class of surgeries designed to assist patients who need to have the appearance of their eyes modified following some unwanted damage or change. Several different types of surgery fall under this umbrella. Some types of reconstructive eye surgery are more commonly requested than others. Educating yourself about some of the various types can help you determine which ones would work for your situation. If you are wondering what the most common types of reconstructive eye surgery are, take a look at this guide that outlines some of the popular choices.
What is Reconstructive Eye Surgery?
Reconstructive eye surgery refers to any surgery that attempts to repair damage to the eyes or surrounding areas. There are several different types of reconstructive eye surgeries, each of which is designed to address specific issues.
What Are the Most Common Types of Reconstructive Eye Surgery?
Some types of reconstructive eye surgeries are performed more often than others. Knowing the difference between them can help you identify which would be most useful for you. Below are some of the most common types of reconstructive eye surgeries:
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, is a surgery that is designed to modify the shape and appearance of the upper or lower eyelids. In the case of a double blepharoplasty, sometimes both sets of eyelids are worked on.
Blepharoplasties can be performed for either medical or cosmetic reasons. One of the most common reasons to perform a blepharoplasty is to correct ptosis, which is a condition that causes the upper eyelids to droop over the eye.
Cataract Surgery
Cataracts are cloudy areas that form on the lens of the eye and worsen with age. A cataract on the lens of your eye can make you feel like you are looking at the world through a dirty windshield or foggy window.
During cataract surgery, your physician removes the clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial one known as an IOL (intraocular lens). Cataract surgery is arguably the most common type of reconstructive eye surgery that is performed in the United States, as cataracts are a prevalent issue.
Eye Cancer Repair Surgery
Eye cancer repair surgery refers to any surgery that is performed to repair the damage to the eyes and eyelids following the removal of a cancerous tumor. If you have a cancerous tumor that develops on your eye or eyelids, it will need to be entirely removed for you to be deemed medically safe.
When these tumors are removed, they can leave gaps or malformed areas in the spaces they used to occupy. Eye cancer repair surgery aims to restore the areas of the face that are impacted by this.
Glaucoma Surgery
Several surgeries have been employed in the treatment of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a general medical term that refers to a set of diseases that impact pressure on the eyes. Glaucoma can lead to severe vision loss and blindness if left untreated.
There are several types of glaucoma surgery. The more commonly employed ones include:
- Trabeculoplasty
- Laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI)
- Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC)
Which of the above surgeries is employed for you will be determined by your specific glaucoma case. You will have the opportunity to discuss this during an examination by your physician.
Enucleation
Enucleation refers to a surgery that removes an eye that has been damaged beyond repair by disease or physical trauma. After an enucleation is performed, your natural eye will typically be replaced by a prosthetic eye. Conditions that can lead to an enucleation include the following:
- Physical trauma to the eyes
- Eye cancer
- Microphthalmia
- Chronic, untreatable pain in the eyes
- Severe eye infections
Enucleation is typically only performed if the eye is damaged beyond reasonable repair and other methods will not satisfactorily resolve the issue.
Reconstructive Eye Surgery
OC Oculoplastic is a highly-rated resource for reconstructive eye surgery and other types of oculoplastic procedures. If you would like to discuss what types of eyelid surgery might work for you, contact our office for a consultation.