|  | Surgeries Operations | Surgeries

What is Exenteration of the Eye?

Exenteration, enucleation and evisceration are the three main surgical strategies used for treating serious medical eye problems. Of these three, exenteration is the most radical option: It is the removal of all of the eye, the associated muscle structures, and occasionally part of the orbital bone (the bone around the eye socket). Exenteration is used for advanced forms of ocular cancer, when other methods of cancer treatment have failed.

  1. Surgical Applications

    • In general, exenteration is employed as the only option for treating large tumors found in and around the eye socket, on the eyelid or eyeball, within the optic nerve, or on the retina. Exenteration of the eye is typically the only option to entirely eradicate an ocular, cystic or sinus cancer while preventing its recurrence after other methods have failed.

    Exenteration as Treatment

    • Thorough examinations, using CT scans and ultrasounds, are used to determine the presumed efficacy of exenteration. According to an Indian medical review of eye exenteration posted at PubMed.org, "the majority ... were performed for neglected ocular malignant lesions." The implication is that earlier medical advice and treatment could have made exenteration unnecessary.

    Surgical Effects

    • A number of potential problems arise with exenteration surgery. Foremost, and inherent to the procedure, is the complete and permanent loss of vision in the removed eye. The operative methods require a highly skilled surgeon to manage and manipulate the numerous muscular structures in the eye socket. Additionally, bacterial and viral infection is a great risk after surgery.

    Post-Operative Complications

    • A number of post-operative complications may occur. Though further tumor growth is usually quite rare, cysts may form in and around the eye socket. Post-surgical pain management is important to ensure proper healing and patient comfort. Long-term pain is the most common issue arising after surgery, typically in the form of ear problems, sinusitis and pain around the eye socket.

    Long-Term Management

    • Cosmetic attention is frequently necessary for the patient's comfort. Immediately post-surgery, patients may opt to wear an eye patch to mask the surgical wound. A selection of prosthetic devices--typically mounting in the eye socket--can be fitted and worn following surgery, after moderate healing. Prosthetics may also be anchored to the patient's facial bones, but only after complete post-operative healing has occurred.

Surgeries - Related Articles