The brain interprets visual impulses transmitted through the photoreceptors of the retina, to the optic nerve and the brain. Many eye diseases and disorders cause an interruption to the normal pathway for perceiving and interpreting images. Eye surgery options are effective in correcting many of these eye conditions to restore visual acuity.
LASIK
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, better known as LASIK eye surgery, is a permanent reshaping of the cornea to improve vision and reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A thorough eye examination to determine if LASIK eye surgery is an option will include measuring the curve of the cornea, pupil size and position, cornea thickness and the overall shape of the eyes.
Risks for LASIK eye surgery include a corneal infection, dry eyes, halos, difficulty driving at night, eye scratchiness and light sensitivity. Final results can take up to six months after the LASIK procedure.
Photorefractive Keratectomy
Photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, uses a laser to reshape the cornea as determined by computer-generated calculations for optimal results. Microscopic amounts of tissue are removed from the outer surface of the cornea in just a few minutes, reports New York-Presbyterian.
The Food and Drug Administration provides guidelines for patients not recommended as candidates for laser eye surgery which includes: people younger than 18; people with health issues, such as autoimmune diseases and diabetes; active sports participants where a blow to the face can occur; and anyone taking medications that cause visual fluctuations.
Cataract Eye Surgery
Cataract eye surgery is the removal of the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. More than 90 percent of people having cataract surgery report improved vision, according to GeorgiaHealthInfo.gov.
Surgical methods used to remove cataracts include phacoemulsification, in which the cataract is removed using ultrasound to break up and suction out the cataract fragments while most of the lens remains in place; and extracapsular cataract extraction, used in cases where the cataract is too large for phacoemulsification to remove the cataract. In extracapsular cataract extraction, an incision is made where the cornea and sclera meet, and the center of the lens is removed in one piece. In either case, a clear artificial lens is implanted to restore vision.
Cancer Surgery
Intraocular melanoma, although rare, is the most common eye cancer in adults, reports the National Cancer Institute. If caught early, intraocular melanoma can often be cured without loss of sight. Factors that determine the best treatment options include the type of melanoma cells, tumor size, which part of the eye is affected and if the tumor has spread.
Surgical treatment options for intraocular melanoma include: local tumor resection, in which the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue is removed; enucleation, in which the eye and part of the optic nerve is removed; and exenteration, which is the removal of the eye, eyelid, muscles, nerves and fat in the eye socket, according to the National Cancer Institute.
