What Are Different Types of Eye Surgery?

Several different types of eye surgery exist, including laser or traditional surgery and minimally invasive options. The specific treatment you need depends on many factors such as your eye condition and overall health.

Eye surgery is a very precise specialty. Like many types of surgeries, these procedures fall into a few major categories, including traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgeries, and laser surgeries.

Ophthalmic surgeries are highly specialized based on the technique, the part of the eye involved, and what specific condition is being treated.

In this article, you’ll learn about the main types of eye surgeries, how these surgeries are performed, and why you might need to have one of these procedures.

There are many surgical approaches that may be applied to different types of surgery based on your individual anatomy, eye condition, or overall health. For this reason, eye surgeries are usually grouped based on the type of condition they treat.

Even with health insurance, patients in the U. S. have a hard time affording their medical care. About one in five working-age Americans with health insurance, and more than half of those without health insurance, reported having trouble paying their medical bills in the last year, according to S. News & World Report.

refractive surgery
glaucoma surgery
cataract surgery
retinal surgery
plastic and reconstruction surgery
muscle surgeries
trauma repair

Each of these types of eye surgery is discussed more in depth below.

Some of the most common eye conditions that demand eye surgery include retinal detachment and glaucoma. Cataract surgery can certainly improve your vision and quality of life, but apart from a few exceptions, it’s still not performed until a person is unable to tolerate worsening cataract symptoms.

Most other eye surgeries are performed to treat a potentially sight threatening condition. Examples are trauma, glaucoma, crooked eyes (strabismus), and tumors of the eye and orbital socket. These are optional, elective surgeries that can eliminate refractive errors, rejuvenate your facial appearance, and boost quality of life rather than your overall health.

Learn more about common eye surgeries

Austra Health offers information on a variety of eye problems and solutions, including:

types of laser surgery
possible risks from cataract surgery
different types of glaucoma surgery
causes of eye pain

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Importantly, make sure to consult a healthcare team and eye care professionals to understand what surgical procedures might be best considered for your own situation.

Each type of eye surgery addresses a specific type of eye issue or condition.

There are some common techniques used for each of these surgery types, but the specifics of your procedure will be up to you and your surgeon.

Refractive surgery

Refractive surgeries are designed to correct or improve deficiencies in your vision. One of the most commonly performed types of refractive surgery is laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), a type of laser surgery that reshapes the cornea to improve visual acuity.

Glaucoma surgery

Glaucoma surgery is a type of procedure designed to relieve a buildup of pressure in your eye that can damage the optic nerve. These surgeries are usually done with tiny, traditional incisions. These incisions are made in the surface of the eye, and a tiny tube is implanted to help relieve pressure by draining excess fluid.

Cataract surgery

Cataract surgery can be done using traditional incisions or laser surgery. With this type of surgery , the clouded natural lens of your eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. This type of surgery can sometimes be combined with other surgery types such as refractive surgery or surgery to correct astigmatism.

Retinal surgery

The retina is the layer of nerve tissue that covers the back of your eye. It’s where images are sharpened and focused before nerve signals are sent to the brain by way of the optic nerve. The clear vitreous gel fills 80% of the volume of the eye.

Not all problems with the retina can be fixed with surgery, with macular degeneration being a prime example. Retinal detachment is one condition commonly treated with retinal surgery.

A vitrectomy is another common retinal procedure that removes the vitreous fluid and any related abnormalities. It’s often used to treat a detached retina and other issues such as a vitreous hemorrhage from diabetic retinopathy.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Plastic and reconstructive surgeries in and around the eyes might be done for a wide range of reasons. Some of the most common include:

removal of excess eyelid skin
repair of droopy eyelids (ptosis)
treatment of drooping eyebrows
repair of a turned-in eyelid (entropion)
repair of a turned-out eyelid (ectropion)
treatment of eye cancers
restoration of lid function after facial paralysis
reconstruction after orbital fractures
eye removal (evisceration/enucleation)
treatment of eyelid spasms
tear duct problems
pro-aging treatments

Some procedures that are considered reconstructive in nature may crossover with other types of eye surgery. In some cases, you may need several procedures or surgery types to correct a major ophthalmic problem such as a major eye injury.

Muscle surgery

There are six separate muscles that assist each eye in altering the gaze in different directions. Surgery may be performed to correct specific muscle problems in your eye. Strabismus (misalignment of the eyes because of a muscular imbalance) can be corrected by altering where specific eye muscles attach to the eyeball. Some forms of strabismus are because of degenerative or neuromuscular disorders such as stroke or acquired eye muscle weakness from degenerative or neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis.

Eye muscle surgery itself isn’t always a cure. Instead, if may be used to help treat eye symptoms related to a larger, systematic condition.

Trauma or injury repair

This is a very broad range of surgeries and can include any type of surgery designed to treat or repair severe trauma or injuries to your eye or the area around it.

These surgeries may be performed as one step in recovery from other problems such as brain or neurological trauma or severe bleeding. They’re usually performed with the goal of preserving your sight and restoring a more natural appearance after a serious injury.

These surgeries are usually done as an emergency or are planned procedures to repair previous injury or damage.