The anterior segment of the eye includes the cornea, iris, ciliary body, and lens. There are several popular operations performed on the anterior segment of the eye, including:
- Cataract surgery: Cataract surgery is a common procedure that involves removing the cloudy lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens.
- Corneal transplant: Also known as keratoplasty, this surgery involves replacing a damaged or diseased cornea with a healthy one from a donor.
- Glaucoma surgery: Glaucoma is a condition that causes increased pressure in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Glaucoma surgery can help lower the pressure in the eye and preserve vision.
- Refractive surgery: This type of surgery is used to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Common types of refractive surgery include LASIK, PRK, and LASEK.
- Corneal cross-linking: This is a procedure that can slow or stop the progression of keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea thins and becomes cone-shaped.
- Corneal transplantation Penetrating keratoplasty (PK), also known as Penetrating keratoplasty (PK), is a surgical procedure in which a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced with a healthy cornea from a donor. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, and it plays an important role in focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye.
- During a PK procedure, the surgeon first removes the central portion of the patient’s cornea and replaces it with a similarly sized piece of a donor cornea. The donor cornea is typically obtained from an eye bank and is carefully screened to ensure that it is healthy and free of disease. After the surgery, the patient’s eye is typically covered with a patch and protective shield.
- The patient will need to use eye drops and follow a strict post-operative care regimen to promote healing and prevent infection. Penetrating keratoplasty may be recommended for a variety of conditions, including corneal scarring, corneal dystrophies, corneal thinning disorders, and certain types of corneal infections. The success rate of PK surgery is generally high, with many patients experiencing improved vision and a reduction in symptoms following the procedure.
- However, like all surgical procedures, PK does carry some risks, including infection, rejection of the donor cornea, and problems with the sutures used to hold the new cornea in place.
- Pterygium surgery is a procedure to remove a pterygium, which is a growth of tissue that starts on the white of the eye (sclera) and can extend onto the cornea. Pterygia are often caused by prolonged exposure to UV light, dust, and other irritants, and they can cause discomfort, redness, and vision problems if they grow large enough to cover the cornea.
- During a pterygium surgery, the surgeon will typically use a local anesthetic to numb the eye and surrounding area. The surgeon will then carefully remove the pterygium tissue, as well as any underlying scar tissue or abnormal blood vessels. In some cases, a small amount of healthy conjunctival tissue may also be removed to help prevent the pterygium from regrowing.
- After the surgery, the patient’s eye may be covered with a patch or protective shield, and eye drops or ointments may be prescribed to help with healing and prevent infection. The patient will typically need to avoid activities that could put a strain on the eye, such as heavy lifting or strenuous exercise, for a few weeks after the surgery.
- Pterygium surgery is generally considered safe and effective, with a low risk of complications. However, like all surgical procedures, there is a risk of bleeding, infection, and other potential side effects. Additionally, there is a risk of the pterygium regrowing after surgery, particularly in patients who have significant sun exposure or other risk factors.
- The recurrence of the wing fur could be reduced from more than 30% to less than 1% with this method.
