EYE REMOVAL
Unfortunately there are situations in which an eye needs to be removed. There are three ways in which an eye is removed: evisceration, enucleation and exenteration.
Evisceration involves removing the eye while leaving the sclera (white part of the eye), eye muscles and orbital tissues intact. An orbital implant is inserted to maintain volume of the orbit that is lost by removing the inside contents of the eye. The overlying tissue is closed so that the area appears pink like the inside of your mouth. A plastic conformer is placed between the eyelids like a contact lens holding this space open while tissue heals. After a few weeks, an ocularist, a skilled artist, will design and fit a customized artificial prosthesis that will take the place of the conformer.
Enucleation involves removing the eye including the sclera (white part of the eye) leaving the eye muscles and orbital tissues intact. An orbital implant is inserted to maintain volume of the orbit that is lost by removing the eye. The muscles are either sewn on top of or directly to the orbital implant. The overlying tissue is closed so that the area appears pink like the inside of your mouth. A plastic conformer is placed between the eyelids like a contact lens holding this space open while tissue heals. After a few weeks, an ocularist, a skilled artist, will design and fit a customized artificial prosthesis that will take the place of the conformer.
Exenteration involves removing the eye and surrounding orbital tissues. This involved surgery is reserved for aggressive orbital diseases such as malignant orbital tumors. Exenteration often involves a multidisciplinary approach and involves a long healing process.
Unfortunately there are situations in which an eye needs to be removed. There are three ways in which an eye is removed: evisceration, enucleation and exenteration.
Evisceration involves removing the eye while leaving the sclera (white part of the eye), eye muscles and orbital tissues intact. An orbital implant is inserted to maintain volume of the orbit that is lost by removing the inside contents of the eye. The overlying tissue is closed so that the area appears pink like the inside of your mouth. A plastic conformer is placed between the eyelids like a contact lens holding this space open while tissue heals. After a few weeks, an ocularist, a skilled artist, will design and fit a customized artificial prosthesis that will take the place of the conformer.
Enucleation involves removing the eye including the sclera (white part of the eye) leaving the eye muscles and orbital tissues intact. An orbital implant is inserted to maintain volume of the orbit that is lost by removing the eye. The muscles are either sewn on top of or directly to the orbital implant. The overlying tissue is closed so that the area appears pink like the inside of your mouth. A plastic conformer is placed between the eyelids like a contact lens holding this space open while tissue heals. After a few weeks, an ocularist, a skilled artist, will design and fit a customized artificial prosthesis that will take the place of the conformer.
Exenteration involves removing the eye and surrounding orbital tissues. This involved surgery is reserved for aggressive orbital diseases such as malignant orbital tumors. Exenteration often involves a multidisciplinary approach and involves a long healing process.