A variety of surgical methods are available for removing the eye and orbital tissue. These can be used when there is a clear indication for their use.
|
Operation |
Procedure |
|
Enucleation |
removal of the eye, leaving the remainder of the orbital contents |
|
Evisceration |
removal of the entire intraocular contents, leaving the scleral shell and muscle attachments intact |
|
Exenteration |
removal of the eye and orbital contents including eyelids; this may be total or subtotal. |
Indications
|
Indications |
Enucleation |
Evisceration |
|
cosmetic deformity |
yes |
yes |
|
microphthalmia |
yes |
may not be feasible |
|
phthisis bulbi |
yes |
may not be feasible |
|
intraocular tumor |
yes |
contraindicated |
|
blind painful eye |
yes |
yes |
|
severe trauma with risk of sympathetic ophthalmia |
yes |
contraindicated |
|
endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis |
yes |
yes |
where:
• Phthisis bulbi indicates wasting away or shrinkage (following trauma, massive infarction or other cause)
Indications for exenteration:
(1) orbital deformities
(2) chronic orbital pain
(3) mucormycosis
(4) cutaneous tumors with orbital invasion
(5) lacrimal gland malignancies
(6) extensive conjunctival malignancies
(7) other orbital malignancies (sarcomas, etc.)
Specialty: Ophthalmology
