Enucleation: Removal Of An Eye |
| What Is Enucleation? |
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- To eliminate a malignant tumor that has developed within the eye
- To alleviate uncontrollable pain in a blind eye
- To reduce the risk of "sympathetic" inflammation of the remaining eye when one eye has been severely injured and blinded
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| The removal of an eye appears to be a drastic measure to most people. Although many patients who require this surgery have no vision in the affected eye, those persons who do have vision in the affected eye recognize that the enucleation procedure will result in instantaneous, permanent, and total blindness of that eye. All patients who undergo this procedure will require an artificial eye (ocular prosthesis) as a cosmetic substitute for their natural eye. |
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| How Is The Enucleation Procedure Done? |
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| The enucleation procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia, although it is possible to perform the operation under the effects of a local anesthetic by numbing the entire eye and socket tissues prior to surgery. The operation is relatively simple to perform. |
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| Immediately after the eyeball is removed, an orbital implant, only slightly smaller than the natural eye, is inserted deep in the socket. This implant is covered surgically with conjunctiva, the pink surface tissue that lines the eyelids and is similar to the lining of the mouth. |
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| What Is the Post-operative Care Following Enucleation? |
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| At the conclusion of the enucleation procedure, a pressure patch is applied over the eyelids. This patch is intended to minimize the swelling of the socket tissues. The pressure patch is generally kept in place for about 12 hours after the surgery. While the pressure patch is in place, the patient commonly experiences difficulty opening the lids of the unoperated eye. Fortunately, the difficulty in opening the eyelids generally resolves itself after the first post-operative day. Moderate post-enucleation pain in the socket generally occurs during the first
24 hours, but pain relievers are prescribed as needed to reduce this discomfort. |
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| After the pressure patch is removed, the eyelids are swollen and black-and-blue for a few days. Eyedrops and oral medications are usually started as soon as the pressure patch has been removed. |
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| What is an Ocular Prosthesis? |
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| An ocular prosthesis is an artificial eye that may be placed in the eye socket after the enucleation procedure. The most common type of ocular prosthesis is the Hydroxyappetite Integrated Implant. |
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| The implant inserted deep into the socket after removal of the eye may have the ability to be surgically attached to the eye muscles. These implants exhibit better motility and have a lower extrusion rate than other types of implants. Occasionally, it is inappropriate to use the integrated implant and the standard sphere may be used. |
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| For more information about the Hydroxyappetite Integrated Implants, please see Ocular Prosthesis: Hydroxyappetite Integrated Implants. |
