ORBITAL SURGERY – Different Procedure Types

Culturally, the eyes are referred to as the “windows to the soul.” The orbit by definition is the bony, triangular shaped cavity in the skull that protects the actual eyeballs and surrounding structures. Orbital surgery entails the bounded tissues of the orbital walls and orbital septum. This surgery may be done for several different reasons including:

Thyroid eye disease (also referred to as Grave’s disease, Grave’s ophthalmopathy, or thyroid ophthalmopathy)

Removal of tumors around the eye
Enucleation/Evisceration
Socket reconstruction
Repair of orbital trauma and/or fractures.

Proptosis (eyes bulge out) from thyroid eye disease can lead to very serious conditions if left untreated. Common problems that can ensue are irritation, redness of the eyes, corneal problems (keratopathy), tearing issues, potential ocular infections, and even vision loss from optic neuropathy (pressure onto the optic nerve). The eyelid surgery Los Angeles procedure that would be done to remedy this eye disease would be orbital fat decompression. In more severe cases, however, orbital bony decompression may need to be done which involves one or a combination of the four orbital walls with or without the use of examination via endoscopy.

When dealing with any kind of tumor or lesion in, behind, or around the eye, orbital surgery is often performed to do a biopsy to determine further necessary treatment. It is important to find out as soon as possible the seriousness of the condition whether the tumor is benign (such as a cyst), malignant (like lymphoma), or inflammatory. Of course seeking the highest quality care from a top surgeon for such a procedure is key to your successful diagnosis and proper recovery.
Enucleation or evisceration is sometimes performed on a non-functioning or blind eye that begins causing you pain and discomfort. Both of these operations similarly work so that the whole eye or most of the eye structures are removed so reconstruction of the eye socket allows for an implant replacement. A patient needing this type of eye surgery should be able to get an artificial eye put in several weeks after the operation.

Orbital fractures most often occur from traumas such as car accidents, assaults, and bad falls. In these trauma-related cases the fracture must be explored carefully and repaired depending on type of fracture and how big or small it is. Surgeons have various materials in which they use to repair an orbital fracture such as titanium mesh, Medpor implants, and calvarial bone graft (bone graft taken from the skull). Again, the type of material used to repair the fracture all depends on the individual case.

Whatever type of orbital surgery you find yourself needing, the most important thing that cannot be stressed enough, is finding a great surgeon that can make you feel safe and comfortable. Los Angeles has some of the most highly recommended eye surgeons in the country and considering how delicate that part of the body is, Los Angeles is the perfect place to find the surgeon that’s right for you.