Ophthalmology Treatment and Procedures

 Eye operation treatments range from medication to advanced surgery. LIV Hospital offers expert care for cataracts, LASIK, and glaucoma to restore your vision.

Eye Operations - Treatment and Procedures

Introduction

Eye operation treatments range from medication to advanced surgery. LIV Hospital offers expert care for cataracts, LASIK, and glaucoma to restore your vision.

Treating eye conditions has come a long way. In the past, eye surgery was a major event requiring days in the hospital. Today, thanks to incredible advances in medical technology, most treatments are quick, painless, and allow you to go home the same day. 

At LIV Hospital, we focus on providing personalized care that targets the specific cause of your vision loss while ensuring your comfort and safety.

Medical Treatment Options

Before recommending surgery, doctors often try to manage eye conditions with medication. This is especially true for chronic diseases like glaucoma or infections.

Common medical treatments include:

• Prescription Eye Drops: These are the first line of defense for glaucoma. They work by either reducing the fluid the eye produces or helping it drain better to lower pressure. Drops are also used to treat infections (antibiotics) and inflammation (steroids).
• Anti-VEGF Injections: For conditions like wet macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, doctors inject medication directly into the eye. While this sounds frightening, it is done with numbing drops and is virtually painless. These drugs stop abnormal blood vessels from growing and leaking.
• Oral Medications: Sometimes, pills are necessary. For example, oral antivirals may be used for shingles in the eye, or carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may be prescribed to quickly lower dangerous eye pressure.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

Many eye problems can be fixed without traditional "cutting" surgery. Minimally invasive procedures often use lasers to treat the eye. These are usually performed in an outpatient setting at LIV Hospital, and recovery is almost immediate.

 

Key minimally invasive treatments:

• YAG Laser Capsulotomy: After cataract surgery, the membrane behind the lens can sometimes become cloudy. A YAG laser creates a tiny hole in this membrane to instantly restore clear vision.
• SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty): This is a "cold laser" treatment for glaucoma. It stimulates the eye's drainage angle to work better, reducing the need for daily eye drops.
• Retinal Photocoagulation: This laser is used to "weld" a tearing retina back in place or to seal off leaking blood vessels in diabetic patients. It helps prevent retinal detachment.

Surgical Treatments for Eye Conditions

When medication and lasers are not enough, surgical intervention is required. Modern eye surgery is microsurgery, performed under a microscope with instruments smaller than a strand of hair.

Cataract Surgery (Phacoemulsification)

This is the most common surgery in the world. The surgeon makes a tiny incision in the cornea. An ultrasound probe breaks up the cloudy lens, which is then vacuumed out. A clear artificial lens (IOL) is implanted in its place. 

Refractive Surgery (LASIK and SMILE)

These surgeries reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

• LASIK: A flap is created on the cornea, and a laser reshapes the tissue underneath.
• SMILE: A newer, minimally invasive option where a laser carves a tiny disc of tissue inside the cornea, which is removed through a small opening.

Glaucoma Surgery

If drops and lasers fail, surgery creates a new drain for the eye fluid.

• Trabeculectomy: The surgeon creates a small flap in the eye wall to let fluid drain under the eyelid.
• MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery): Tiny microscopic tubes or stents are implanted to bypass blockages. This is often safer and faster than traditional surgery.

Vitrectomy (Retinal Surgery)

For retinal detachments or severe bleeding, the surgeon removes the vitreous gel from the middle of the eye. This allows them to repair the retina directly. A gas bubble or silicone oil might be injected to hold the retina in place while it heals.

Why Choose LIV Hospital for Eye Operations?

Your eyesight is irreplaceable, so choosing the right hospital is critical. LIV Hospital combines world-class medical expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver the best possible outcomes.

Our Advantages Include:

• Advanced Technology: We use the latest femtosecond lasers and 3D visualization systems, ensuring the highest precision during surgery.
• Expert Team: Our ophthalmologists are specialists in their fields, from retina experts to corneal surgeons, ensuring you are treated by a doctor who focuses specifically on your condition.
• Comprehensive Care: We handle everything under one roof, from initial diagnosis and imaging to surgery and post-operative rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Recovery from eye surgery is usually faster than other types of surgery, but it requires strict adherence to your doctor's instructions to prevent infection.

The Recovery Process:

• Immediate Post-Op: You will likely wear an eye shield or patch for the first day, especially while sleeping, to prevent you from rubbing your eye.
• Vision Recovery: For cataract or LASIK patients, vision is often good the very next day. For retinal surgeries, vision may remain blurry for weeks as the eye heals.
• Activity Restrictions: You must avoid heavy lifting, bending over at the waist, and swimming. Water should not get directly into the eye for at least a week.

What to Expect After Treatment?

Knowing what is normal helps reduce anxiety during recovery.

• Discomfort: Mild scratching or a "gritty" sensation is normal. Severe pain is not.
• Visual Disturbances: You may see halos, glare, or fluctuating vision for the first few weeks as your eye adjusts and heals.
• Redness: The white of the eye might look bloodshot or bruised. This is harmless and will fade like a bruise on the skin.
• Follow-Up: You will have a checkup usually within 24 hours of surgery, then again at one week and one month.

MEETING WITH THE DOCTOR

Long-term Management

Eye surgery is often a permanent fix, but your eyes still need care.

• Annual Exams: Even after successful surgery, you need yearly exams to check the health of the retina and optic nerve.
• Secondary Cataracts: Years after cataract surgery, a film may grow behind the new lens. This is easily fixed with a quick laser treatment.
• Lifestyle: Continuing to protect your eyes from UV light and managing conditions like diabetes is essential to maintain your surgical results.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the treatment options for cataracts?

The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. Glasses can help in the early stages, but once vision is impaired, the cloudy lens must be surgically removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

How long does cataract surgery recovery take?

Most patients see clearly within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. However, complete healing takes about 4 to 6 weeks. You can usually return to normal light activities within a few days, but must avoid heavy lifting and swimming for a few weeks.

Will I need surgery for my glaucoma?

Not necessarily. Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops first. If drops do not lower the pressure enough, or if the side effects are too difficult, your doctor may suggest laser treatment. Traditional surgery is usually reserved for advanced cases that do not respond to other treatments.

What medications are used to treat eye infections?

Bacterial eye infections are treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments. Viral infections may require antiviral drops or oral pills. Allergic reactions are treated with antihistamine drops. It is crucial to finish the full course of medication even if the eye feels better.

What can I expect during recovery from LASIK?

Recovery from LASIK is very fast. You may feel a burning or itching sensation for a few hours after the procedure. Most patients wake up the next morning with significantly improved vision. Dry eyes are a common temporary side effect that can last for a few months.

The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. Glasses can help in the early stages, but once vision is impaired, the cloudy lens must be surgically removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

Most patients see clearly within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. However, complete healing takes about 4 to 6 weeks. You can usually return to normal light activities within a few days, but must avoid heavy lifting and swimming for a few weeks.

Not necessarily. Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops first. If drops do not lower the pressure enough, or if the side effects are too difficult, your doctor may suggest laser treatment. Traditional surgery is usually reserved for advanced cases that do not respond to other treatments.

Bacterial eye infections are treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments. Viral infections may require antiviral drops or oral pills. Allergic reactions are treated with antihistamine drops. It is crucial to finish the full course of medication even if the eye feels better.

Recovery from LASIK is very fast. You may feel a burning or itching sensation for a few hours after the procedure. Most patients wake up the next morning with significantly improved vision. Dry eyes are a common temporary side effect that can last for a few months.

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