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Evisceration (ophthalmology)

AI overview

Ocular evisceration is the removal of the eye 's contents, leaving the scleral shell and extraocular muscles intact.

Key points
  • Evisceration differs from enucleation because it leaves the scleral shell intact.
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    Evisceration differs from enucleation , as enucleation involves the removal of the scleral shell as well.
  • It was first described in 1817 as an experimental treatment for expulsive hemorrhage.
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    Evisceration was first described by Bear in 1817 as an experimental treatment for expulsive hemorrhage
  • It is not typically used for intraocular cancers due to the risk of spreading cancerous cells.
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    not typically used in patients with intraocular cancers as it may risk spreading cancerous cells to other parts of the body.
Symptoms
  • Common indications for the procedure include a blind painful eye, trauma, or infection.
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    The most common indications for evisceration include a blind painful eye, trauma, or infection.
  • It is performed to reduce pain or improve cosmetic appearance in a blind eye.
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    The procedure is usually performed to reduce pain, improve cosmetic appearance in a blind eye
Diagnosis
  • The eye must be examined by an ophthalmologist prior to surgery to check for cancer or complicating conditions.
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    Prior to surgery, the eye must be carefully examined by an ophthalmologist to check for ocular cancer or other conditions that may complicate the procedure.
  • A CT scan should be performed if the back of the eye cannot be visualized.
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    If the back of the eye cannot be visualized, then a CT scan should be performed.
Treatment
  • The surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia and takes one to two hours.
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    The surgery is performed in the operating room typically under general anesthesia, however it can also be conducted using local anesthesia with sedation. Procedure time is typically one to two hours.
  • The procedure involves removing orbital contents with an evisceration spoon and inserting a spherical implant.
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    A spherical implant is then inserted into the scleral shell and the shell is sutured together, encasing the implant.
  • Post-operation, patients should avoid strenuous physical activity and contaminated bodies of water.
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    After the surgery, strenuous physical activity should be avoided until cleared by a physician.
  • An ocularist can custom fit a prosthetic eye 6-8 weeks post-op.
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    an ocularist can custom fit a prosthetic eye to improve cosmetic appearance. This will typically occur 6-8 weeks post-op.
Red flags
  • Evisceration is not typically used in patients with intraocular cancers due to the risk of spreading cancerous cells.
    source quote
    not typically used in patients with intraocular cancers as it may risk spreading cancerous cells to other parts of the body.
  • If cancer cannot be ruled out, enucleation may be considered to prevent malignant spread.
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    If neither clinical evaluation nor imaging can rule out cancer, then enucleation may be considered as an alternative to prevent the possibility of malignant spread.
  • Complications can include bleeding, swelling, infection, and scarring.
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    evisceration may be complicated by bleeding, swelling, infection, and scarring.
Prognosis

With proper care, prosthetic eyes can last decades.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Evisceration (ophthalmology)”. Not medical advice. Verify source →

Ocular evisceration is the removal of the eye's contents, leaving the scleral shell and extraocular muscles intact.[1][2] The procedure is usually performed to reduce pain, improve cosmetic appearance in a blind eye, treat cases of endophthalmitis unresponsive to antibiotics, or in the case of ocular trauma.[1][2] An ocular prosthetic can be later fitted over the eviscerated eye in order to improve cosmetic appearance.[3]

Evisceration is a surgical procedure that involves the removal the eye's contents while leaving the white part of the eye (the scleral shell) and extraocular muscles in place.[4] Evisceration differs from enucleation, as enucleation involves the removal of the scleral shell as well. Evisceration was first described by Bear in 1817 as an experimental treatment for expulsive hemorrhage, and with the advent of general anesthesia in the 1840's the procedure was refined and ocular implants were developed.[5]

Evisceration involves disrupting the integrity of the globe, and therefore is not typically used in patients with intraocular cancers as it may risk spreading cancerous cells to other parts of the body.[6] The most common indications for evisceration include a blind painful eye, trauma, or infection.[2][7][8]

Prior to surgery, the eye must be carefully examined by an ophthalmologist to check for ocular cancer or other conditions that may complicate the procedure. If the back of the eye cannot be visualized, then a CT scan should be performed.[7] If neither clinical evaluation nor imaging can rule out cancer, then enucleation may be considered as an alternative to prevent the possibility of malignant spread.[9]

The surgery is performed in the operating room typically under general anesthesia, however it can also be conducted using local anesthesia with sedation. Procedure time is typically one to two hours.[citation needed]

Prior to surgery, the correct eye must be marked and verified. The patient is anesthetized, the field is sterilized, then draped in a sterile manner.[10] An eyelid speculum is placed to keep the eyelids open during the surgery. The procedure begins with a 360° periotomy followed by a stab incision in the sclera.[10][11] The incision is then expanded around the limbus circumferentially and the orbital contents are removed using an evisceration spoon. The optic disc is then cauterized and the scleral shell is cleaned.[10] A spherical implant is then inserted into the scleral shell and the shell is sutured together, encasing the implant.[12] The intraocular contents may be sent for pathological examination once removed.[10]

After the surgery, strenuous physical activity should be avoided until cleared by a physician.[13] Contaminated bodies of water, such as pools, lakes, and the ocean should be avoided.[7] The surgeon will typically provide instructions on bathing, as tap water may also be contaminated.[citation needed]

Post-operative pain may be controlled with either prescription medications or over the counter pain relievers. Some patients may be given steroids or antibiotics depending on the indication for the surgery and surgeon preference.[10]

Once the operating surgeon determines that the orbit has healed adequately, an ocularist can custom fit a prosthetic eye to improve cosmetic appearance. This will typically occur 6-8 weeks post-op. With proper care, prosthetic eyes can last decades.[10]

As with any surgery, evisceration may be complicated by bleeding, swelling, infection, and scarring.[14] Although these complications are rare, a doctor should be consulted regarding any pre-existing conditions or current medications that may increase the chance of surgical complications.[15] There are also risks with general anesthesia, especially in patients with certain pre-existing health conditions. In addition, patients may experience eyelid droopiness and complications related to the ocular implant.[14] Eyelid droopiness may require additional surgery for correction.[16]

  1. 1 2 Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. Dictionary of Eye Terminology. Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company, 1990.
  2. 1 2 3 Zein W. "Evisceration, Enucleation, and Exenteration." Archived 2006-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Eyeweb.org. Accessed September 25, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Evisceration". Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Ocularist Association of California. Accessed September 25, 2006.
  4. ↑ PICK, ALBERT (1898-01-08). "An Experiment on a Rabbit's Eye, to Obtain an Elastic, Unbreakable "Artificial Vitreous Body" After Evisceration". Journal of the American Medical Association. XXX (2): 66. doi:10.1001/jama.1898.72440540014002d. ISSN 0002-9955.
  5. ↑ Nesi, F. A.; Lisman, R. D.; Levine, M. R. (1998). "Smith's Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 4 (125): 569–570. ISSN 0002-9394.
  6. ↑ McAlinden, Colm; Saldanha, Mario; Laws, David (2013-10-30). "Evisceration for the management of ocular trauma". BMJ Case Reports. 2013: bcr2013201235. doi:10.1136/bcr-2013-201235. ISSN 1757-790X. PMC 3822222. PMID 24172777.
  7. 1 2 3 "Eye Removal Surgery: Enucleation and Evisceration". American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  8. ↑ Chaudhry, Imtiaz A.; AlKuraya, Hisham S.; Shamsi, Farrukh A.; Elzaridi, Elsanusi; Riley, Fenwick C. (2007). "Current indications and resultant complications of evisceration". Ophthalmic Epidemiology. 14 (2): 93–97. doi:10.1080/09286580600943598. ISSN 0928-6586. PMID 17464857.
  9. ↑ Fu, Lanxing; Patel, Bhupendra C. (2025), "Enucleation", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32965815, retrieved 2025-01-23
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Steps in evisceration surgery". American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  11. ↑ "Steps in evisceration surgery". American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  12. ↑ McAlinden, Colm; Saldanha, Mario; Laws, David (2013-10-30). "Evisceration for the management of ocular trauma". BMJ Case Reports. 2013: bcr2013201235. doi:10.1136/bcr-2013-201235. ISSN 1757-790X. PMC 3822222. PMID 24172777.
  13. ↑ Kowanz, Dominik H.; Wawer Matos, Philomena A.; Gordon, Erik; Doulis, Alexandros; Simon, Michael; Rokohl, Alexander C.; Heindl, Ludwig M. (February 2023). "[Evisceration, enucleation and exenteration-Indications, techniques, and postoperative care]". Die Ophthalmologie. 120 (2): 126–138. doi:10.1007/s00347-022-01791-4. ISSN 2731-7218. PMID 36635593.
  14. 1 2 "Enucleation and evisceration surgery complications". American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  15. ↑ Smith, Guerin; D'Cruz, Jason R.; Rondeau, Bryan; Goldman, Julie (2025), "General Anesthesia for Surgeons", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 29630251, retrieved 2025-01-23
  16. ↑ Bergstrom, Reece; Czyz, Craig N. (2025), "Entropion Eyelid Reconstruction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 29262117, retrieved 2025-01-23