Eye surgery - what is it?

Modern ophthalmology allows surgery to be performed in 15-40 minutes.

During surgery, anesthesia is used, so the patient does not experience pain, and often there is no discomfort.

Thanks to modern technology, most interventions are successful and painless.But such operations have their own side effects and contraindications.Everyone planning to undergo eye surgery should know about them.

Indications for eye surgery

Most people believe that ophthalmology surgery is safe, quick and comfortable for patients.But this opinion is not always true.

With every ophthalmological intervention, there is a risk of developing pathology and visual impairment.The intervention may not be successful, and not everything depends on the ophthalmologist who performs the operation.

Before intervention, the patient must carefully assess his condition.Review information about selected interventions.Assess contraindications and possible side effects.One must assess the possible consequences.Treatment does not always go smoothly and without consequences.Although in most cases this is true.

Most patients undergo surgery to improve vision for the following pathologies:

• farsightedness (nearsightedness);
• hypermetropia (farsightedness);
• cataract (cloudiness of the lens).

Ophthalmic surgery will allow a person to restore lost visual acuity.The person will once again be able to engage in activities that require excellent vision (driving a car, riding a bicycle, and in some cases reading a book).

If surgery is necessary for a child, parents should weigh the pros and cons.Children cannot make their own decisions.This means that his vision depends entirely on his parents' choices.

Scleroplasty

Does not restore vision completely, but prevents a continuous decrease in visual acuity.Prescribed primarily for myopia in people over 18 years of age.This is due to the fact that children's eyes are prone to change (the shape of the eye and its components change).

Therefore, if you "introduce" sclera-strengthening material into a child's eye, then over time the material will stretch and may cause worsening vision.

Scleroplasty aims to stabilize vision.It is not a corrective intervention.

Hold for 20-30 minutes.And it consists of introducing a sclero-strengthening material (patient tissue, synthetic polymer, silicone, etc.) into the eye.The scleral reinforcing material attaches to the outer membrane of the eye.Impaired reduced vision.

Scleroplasty is prescribed for progressive myopia.In cases where vision correction is prohibited for some reason.

It is not recommended to perform scleroplasty in the following cases:

• children's age (up to 5 years);
• psychosomatic disorders;
• the presence of viral or infectious diseases;
• visual instrument dystrophy;
• allergy or hypersensitivity to scleral strengthening substances;
• allergic to anesthetic drugs.

During pregnancy, this intervention is allowed.But it is still recommended to undergo scleroplasty before or after pregnancy.

After surgery, every patient faces a long recovery period.Includes:

• It is not recommended for 1-2 weeks to read books, sit in front of the computer, watch TV, limit the use of the phone (you should not strain your eyes);
• Do not visit the swimming pool or play sports for 4-5 weeks;
• 2-3 weeks (determined individually) wear glasses with filters from ultraviolet rays (after the intervention there is an acute reaction to light);
• limit vigorous physical activity for 8-12 months.

It is recommended to follow all instructions from your doctor.Instill remedial antibacterial drops.Then the recovery period will be good and will not suffer negative consequences.

Scleroplasty costs start at $50 per eye.The cost depends on the area of residence, the ophthalmology clinic and the qualifications of the specialist.It is important to carefully approach the choice of an ophthalmology clinic.Future vision conditions may depend on this choice.

Vitrectomy

Surgery to remove part or all of the vitreous humor (the clear material that fills the space between the retina and the lens).Performed by highly qualified surgeons.Lasts 1.5-3 hours.

Hint:

• vitreous opacity;
• infectious or inflammatory diseases of the inner layer of the eye;
• retinal detachment;
• mechanical injury resulting in dislocation of the lens;
• bleeding into the vitreous body.

The patient's vitreous body is removed and an artificial lens is placed in its place.

Not recommended in the following cases:

• pregnancy period;
• regular or periodic increase in intraocular pressure (glaucoma);
• high level of lens and corneal opacity.

With vitrectomy, vision is gradually restored.The recovery period of visual acuity lasts 1-2 months.

If the operation does not go smoothly or the patient does not follow the doctor's recommendations, complications may arise:

• infectious diseases;
• retinal detachment;
• the development of glaucoma (a group of diseases characterized by increased intraocular pressure);
• cloudiness of the cornea or lens.

Prices start at $330.The price depends on the residential area and the clinic that performs the intervention.Vitrectomy can cost up to $1,660 per eye.

Laser freezing of the retina

A lens is placed on the patient's eye through which the laser is passed.Retinal tears are repaired using a laser.If the gap is not "soldered" in time, it will turn into retinal detachment.Detachment is more difficult to treat.Therefore, it is important to undergo surgery on time - retinal laser coagulation.

Correcting small retinal detachments (decided individually with each patient).

The intervention lasted for 20 minutes.Previously, the patient was implanted with anesthetic drops.

Contraindications:

• turbidity of the visual apparatus;
• vascular pathology (including differences in bleeding);
• reduce visual acuity (with vision 0.1 it is not recommended);
• dystrophy of the visual organs.

Complications may occur - corneal edema.Causes temporary visual impairment.But if the operating doctor's instructions are followed, the patient's vision is restored.

Laser retinal freezing costs from $33 to $830.

Strabismus correction

Surgery to correct strabismus usually occurs in childhood.Adults seek such intervention most often in cases of acquired strabismus (squint).

Hint:

• squint;
• eye muscle paralysis.

The intervention enables cosmetic effects and restores the patient's vision.But vision does not always return completely.After surgery, only half of the vision returned.

Ophthalmologists recommend using this operation only if conservative (non-surgical) methods do not help.This manipulation is an intervention of a certain complexity.

The cost is around $330.

Cross link

The operation is performed on the cornea (the front convex part of the eyeball).A small thin layer of the cornea is cut.The corneal layer is carefully reinforced.A protective lens is placed on top.Cross-links are established in the following cases:

• corneal dystrophy;
• keratoconus;
• keratomalacia;
• "fatigue" of the cornea.

Contraindications:

• age up to 15 years;
• pregnancy period;
• thin corneal layer;
• low visual acuity.

Cross-linking takes no more than 1 hour.The patient is in the hospital for 2-3 days.The operation is performed under local anesthesia.The result of the intervention lasts for 8-10 years.

Crosslink pricing starts at $330.

Glaucoma treatment

Glaucoma is a group of diseases characterized by a periodic or continuous increase in intraocular pressure.This surgical intervention is prescribed if the patient does not respond to conservative methods.The operation can be performed at the patient's request.One gets tired of constantly instilling drops and taking pills.

Surgery to correct glaucoma is temporary (most often).Gradually, increased intraocular pressure returned to the patient.

During the recovery period, a person must follow all the instructions and advice of the attending physician.Then the effects of surgery will last longer and complications will be avoided.

The main complications are the appearance of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

In general, surgery to treat glaucoma is considered safe.In most cases it works.

The cost of laser intervention is from $130.Surgical intervention – from $330.

Cataract removal

Cataract is clouding of the eye lens.Surgical intervention is performed when conservative treatment methods do not help or in the case of a severe stage of disease progression.The damaged lens is removed using a laser or ultrasound.

A new imitation is put in its place.The operation lasts 15-20 minutes.

Contraindications:

• period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• the presence of infectious ophthalmological diseases;
• inflammation;
• psychological disorders;
• heart failure;
• age under 18 years (contraindications are determined individually, based on the individual characteristics of the patient).

It is important to observe the recovery period of 1-2 months.Do not do heavy physical activity, do not go to the swimming pool, stop driving (1-2 weeks after surgery).After replacing the lenses, you should not rub your eyes.

Within 1-2 months, the lens should "take root" in the patient's body.A person can resume his normal way of life.

Cost – from $330.

Laser vision correction

Laser correction is the most popular operation.Executed when:

• nearsightedness (myopia);
• hypermetropia (farsightedness)
• astigmatism.

Hold for 20-30 minutes using anesthetic drops.On the day of laser correction, the patient goes home.1-2 days after the correction, the person will experience discomfort (acute reaction to light, tearing, pain).But gradually the discomfort disappeared.

Laser correction is contraindicated in the following cases:

• age up to 18 years (determined individually based on patient characteristics);
• infectious and inflammatory diseases;
• progressive state of myopia (hypermetropia, astigmatism).

In most cases it works.The patient's vision is fully restored.

Laser correction costs start at $330.