Enucleation is a surgery in which the surgeon removes an eye from a patient. Doctors usually only perform enucleation as a last resort, when the health of the patient is in serious jeopardy otherwise. Most patients recover well and often return to very normal lives after the surgery.
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Reasons for the Surgery
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Doctors perform enucleation of the eye when there is no other way to reach a good solution for the patient. Intraocular cancerous tumors, infections of the eye, serious eye injuries and cosmetic improvement (when the existing eye is badly damaged) are all reasons that a surgeon may perform enucleation.
Surgeons
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Enucleation is usually performed by an eye specialist called an opthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon. These surgeons complete extensive eye-specific training, such as a fellowship with the American Society of Opthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Enucleation vs. Evisceration
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Enucleation should not be confused with a similar surgery known as evisceration of the eye. Enucleation is the total removal of the eye, while evisceration leaves the white of the eye and the eye muscles behind. The surgery chosen depends on the needs of the specific patient.
The Surgery
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Depending on the patient, the surgery may occur at either an outpatient facility or at a hospital. Patients who are young and healthy often have the surgery as an outpatient procedure, but some patients require a hospital stay after the surgery. General anaesthesia is used for the surgery. The surgeon places an implant made of rubber or polyethylene into the empty socket and attaches the muscle of the eye to the implant.
Post-Operative Considerations
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Some complications can occur post-surgery. Hemorrhage and infection are both concerns. Hemorrhage occurs mainly to patients taking blood thinners or who have a bleeding disorder. This is treated with pain medication, as other treatment is not considered effective. Infection is managed with antibiotics. Immediately after surgery, patients use eye drops containing antibiotics and steroids twice daily for a month. This helps guard against infection and promotes more swift healing.
Some weeks after surgery, patients are able to have a custom prosthetic eye made by a specialist known as an ocularist. The ocularist paints the prosthesis to match the patient's remaining eye. Patients often report that other people do not even recognize the prosthetic as not being a normal eye. Patients can return to their normal lives but require regular examinations by eye specialists for the rest of their lives.
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