Intracapsular Cataract Extraction And Why Your Optometrist Might Choose This For Advanced Cataract Surgery
by Vernon Chambers
Intracapsular cataract extraction, or ICCE, is rarely performed because of its associated complications. However, your optometrist may still opt to perform this type of surgery for your cataracts, especially if you have advanced cataracts and a comorbid condition. Here are some reasons why your eye doctor may choose ICCE over the other available options for cataract surgery.
Cataracts and Cancer
Cancers can affect the human eye, just like any other part of the body. When there is a sign of cancer or a tumor growing close to the lens of the eye and you have also developed a cataract, your optometrist will want to remove the entire capsule and lens of your eye. The capsule is the clear bump area over your iris and lens. This whole area is removed, leaving just the iris behind. Then the lens is replaced with an intraocular lens, and a capsule alternative is used (usually a donor capsule, but there are other options). The tumor, which may or may not be cancerous, is also removed and sent to the lab for testing. In the meantime, your sight is restored until your doctor can determine if you have cancer in your eye.
Cataracts and Car Accidents
In the event that your cataracts are caused by severe trauma to your eyes from a car accident, and the corneas and/or capsules have been badly scratched and damaged, your optometrist may also decide to do ICCE. He or she may hope to restore more of your sight with the capsule and lens replacement rather than just the lens replacement alone. It is riskier, but when your corneas and capsules are so badly damaged by the accident, you may have nothing to lose and all to gain.
The Risks Have Already Occurred and No More Serious Damage Can Take Place
Many of the risks that occur with ICCE include a depressurized vitreous chamber and a detached retina. If you currently suffer from both of these, and your optometrist has to perform emergency eye surgery anyway, he or she might just go ahead with the ICCE surgery for your cataracts since the risk factors have already taken place. You cannot incur any of the risks when you are already experiencing them, so there is less risk involved in performing this type of cataract surgery during an emergency eye operation anyway. It is the equivalent to removing your liver and risking bilirubin buildup when you already have jaundice from the bad liver.
For more information, contact Northwest Ophthalmology or a similar location.
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When our child was diagnosed with a debilitating eye condition, I knew I needed to start looking around for a great eye doctor. I did my research regarding the kinds of training eye doctors typically received, and then looked for a professional that really exceeded the expectations required of him. I was able to find an amazing eye doctor that had years of treating the same condition my child had, and it was really comforting to know that he could help them. My optometrist has made my child's disability management much more straightforward. Check out these posts to learn how to find a better eye doctor.