Eye Microsurgery

Microsurgery is any surgery that is performed using a surgical microscope. Examples of microsurgery include the attachment of severed blood vessels or surgery to connect tendons and muscles of the hand. These surgeries are so delicate and precise that the surgeon needs to be able to see the structures under magnification. Surgery of the eye often requires the use and application of microsurgery techniques, not only because the eye is relatively small, but the structures within the eye are small and delicate as well.

 

 

Eye microsurgery encompasses a large number of eye surgeries. Indeed many surgeons will use magnification from a microscope during eye surgery. There are several surgical microscope devices available. They are usually very stable devices that have a boom arm that can be moved between the surgeon and the surgical field without restricting movement of the surgeon’s hands.

 

Something as simple as loupes can be used to magnify the surgical field of the eye, which would qualify as eye microsurgery. Loupes are essentially glasses that have powerful magnifying lenses built into them. If you have seen the lens of a microscope, a cylinder about two inches long, then you can imagine that one of these lenses has been attached each lens on a pair of eyeglasses—these are loupes. Loupes can magnify the surgical field four to six times larger than they would be with the naked eye.

 

Cornea surgery is a common type of eye microsurgery. One of the more commonly performed cornea surgeries that may apply eye microsurgery is corneal transplant. This approach is used to treat keratoconus or a cloudy cornea. These procedures do not necessary require eye microsurgery, but can be aided with the using of visual magnification.

 

Eye microsurgery is applied to glaucoma surgery, too. Glaucoma is a disorder of the eye in which the eyeball contains too much fluid or the fluid cannot escape naturally. Sometimes, in order to treat glaucoma and relieve pressure within the eye, very small, thin tubes are placed to drain the fluid. The placement of the glaucoma drainage tubes is quite delicate and needs to be precise, so eye microsurgery is performed to ensure proper placement.

 

Cataract surgery can be aided by eye microsurgery. The cloudy lens is removed by scraping or suction and in some cases, an intraocular lens (IOL) is placed using eye microsurgery.

 

Occasionally patients will suffer from retinal detachment. The retina is the back part of the eye that is home to the light receptors. Retinal cones and rods take light information and convert it into nerve signals so that we can see. After trauma or disease, the retina can detach from the back of the eye leading to immediate and potentially permanent blindness. Fortunately, this condition can be treated with eye microsurgery. The retina can be unfolded, straightened and reattached to the back of the eye. The process of suturing that is required to hold the very thin retina in place needs to be done with appropriate care and caution. Additional magnification through eye microsurgery can be very advantageous in this regard.