Ophthalmic Surgeries Explained
A short glossary of terms related to ophthalmic surgeries and conditions is below. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’s a good place to start if your pet’s doctor has recommended that you visit an ophthalmologist to treat your pet’s eye condition. Additional content is linked throughout. We hope this resource will be helpful as you navigate the next steps in your pet’s eye care.
- Blepharoplasty: Reconstructive eyelid surgery for a variety of conditions including eyelid tumors and congenital defects.
- Enucleation: The surgical removal of the eye. This type of surgery is indicated for a variety of ocular tumors, severe ocular trauma, and in eyes that are otherwise blind and painful.
- Evisceration and Intraocular Prosthesis: The surgical removal of the internal contents of the eye followed by placement of an intraocular prosthetic.
- Luxated Lens Removal: The surgical removal of a dislocated lens.
- Cataract Surgery: Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts. Phacoemulsification utilizes ultrasonic energy to emulsify (break up) the lens which is then removed from the eye. To provide optimal post operative vision, a synthetic intraocular lens is inserted into the eye in most cases. While complications are possible, cataract surgery is successful in restoring vision in the majority of patients.
- Corneal Surgeries:
- Corneal transplant: A surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue (or synthetic material) in its entirety (penetrating keratoplasty) or in part (lamellar keratoplasty).
- Grid Keratotomy: A surgical procedure that is performed on indolent, or slow healing, corneal ulcers.
- Surgical repair of Corneal Ulcers: In the case of a deep corneal ulcer, more aggressive treatment may be necessary to prevent the ulcer depth from progressing. In these cases, it may be necessary to place a graft onto the ulcer to stabilize the cornea and prevent rupture of the eye.
- Keratectomy: Surgical removal of corneal tissue for a variety of corneal pathology.
- Glaucoma Surgery: A surgical procedure where damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue (or synthetic material).
- Cryotherapy: The application of very low temperature (followed by thaw) to treat a variety of conditions (distichia, eyelid neoplasia, ectopic cillia).
- Laser Surgery: Used to treat glaucoma, ocular neoplasia and cysts, as well as to perform retinopexy (procedure to help prevent or treat a retinal tear or detachment).
- Surgery for Dry Eye: Parotid Duct Transposition is a treatment option for patients with Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) – Dry Eye that is unresponsive to medical therapy. This surgery results in the redirection of the parotid salivary duct from the mouth to the eye so that the ocular surface is lubricated by saliva rather than tears.