Eye Surgery: Definition, Types, Conditions and Preparation

Published on Monday, March 18

Updated on December 16th, 2024

Eye surgery is a procedure performed to treat certain eye conditions and also to correct a person’s vision. Eye surgery is performed by an eye surgeon, known as an ophthalmologist. Types of eye surgeries include laser eye surgery, corneal transplant, cataract surgery and retina surgery. Conditions treated with eye surgery are glaucoma, cataracts, eye misalignment and refractive errors. Keep reading to learn more about the types of eye surgeries and how one might prepare for eye surgery.

What is Eye Surgery?

Eye surgery is a type of surgical procedure conducted to help treat certain eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy and eye injuries. Eye surgery will repair or replace certain structures within the eye. Types of eye surgery include laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, corneal transplants, eye muscle surgery and surgery to remove eye cancers. Not all eye surgeries in Australia will be covered by Medicare. It is important to check with your healthcare provider on what out-of-pocket costs you may be required to pay before getting eye surgery.

What are Common Eye Surgery Types?

The most common eye surgery types include laser eye surgery, corneal transplant, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, retina surgery and eye muscle surgery. The common types of eye surgery are listed below.

Laser eye surgery: Laser eye surgery refers to a procedure in which a laser is used on the eye for varying purposes, including reshaping the surface of the eye to treat refractive errors, or removing damaged eye tissue. LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common types of laser eye surgery, used to correct refractive errors such as astigmatism or myopia.
Corneal transplant: A corneal transplant is a type of eye surgery in which the cornea is removed and replaced with one from a donor. The cornea is the transparent dome covering the outside of the eye. A corneal transplant may be needed if a cornea has become diseased and this disease impacts vision, according to Health Direct.
Cataract surgery: Cataract surgery refers to removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with a new, artificial lens, according to HealthyWA. Cataracts is an eye condition in which the eye lens becomes cloudy and affects vision, generally caused by ageing.
Glaucoma surgery: Glaucoma surgery refers to a surgical procedure that helps to treat the eye condition glaucoma, in which there is damage to the optic nerve and subsequent vision loss. Glaucoma surgery aims to lower pressure in the eye, to help reduce damage to the optic nerve, according to Health Direct. Glaucoma surgeries include a trabeculectomy and tube-shunt surgery.
Retina surgery: Retina surgery refers to surgical procedures done to the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Retina surgery may help fix issues such as a detached retina.
Eye muscle surgery: Eye muscle surgery refers to a surgical procedure to treat conditions such as strabismus, in which the eyes do not align due to issues with the muscles.

What Conditions Can Be Treated with Eye Surgery?

Various eye conditions can be treated with eye surgery, including glaucoma, cataracts, eye misalignment and refractive errors. The conditions that can be treated with eye surgery are listed below.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve and generally lead to poor vision. Surgery to reduce eye pressure is a possible treatment for glaucoma.
Cataracts: Cataracts are an eye condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy as a result of changes in the eye as a person ages, which can eventually affect the quality of vision. Cataracts develop when proteins in the eye clump together, according to Health Direct. Cataract surgery involves removing the lens and replacing it with a new one.
Strabismus: Strabismus, also known as eye misalignment, refers to an eye condition in which the eyes do not point in the same direction due to issues with the eye muscles. Surgery may help to treat strabismus by altering the position and strength of the eye muscles to help them back into alignment.
Refractive errors: Refractive errors refer to an eye condition in which light does not refract correctly in the eye, leading to vision issues. Refractive errors include myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. LASIK, which is a type of laser eye surgery, may be used in the treatment of refractive errors. LASIK will reshape the eye’s cornea to help a person see better, according to the American Association of Anesthesiologists.

Who Conducts Eye Surgery?

Eye surgery is generally conducted by an eye surgeon, known in Australia as an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has achieved specialised training in eye care. An ophthalmologist will conduct eye surgeries including cataract surgery, eye muscle surgery and surgery to remove cancers, according to Health Direct.

What are the Potential Risks and Complications Associated with Eye Surgery?

Potential risks and complications associated with eye surgery depend on the type of eye surgery a person is undergoing, their eye health as well as general overall health. Complications for cataract surgery for example may include infection, eye inflammation or bleeding, according to Health Direct. It is important to speak to your eye surgeon or optometrist before undergoing eye surgery to make sure you are aware of the possible risks and complications associated with eye surgery.

How Does Lasik Eye Surgery Work?

LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery is a type of laser eye surgery that works by using a laser to reshape the cornea, which is the transparent dome structure that covers the eye. A LASIK procedure will involve an eye surgeon making a flap or incision on top of the cornea. The laser will then reshape the layer of the cornea underneath this and the incision or flap will be closed up, according to Health Direct.

Who is a Suitable Candidate for Cataract Surgery?

The people most suitable for cataract surgery are those who have trouble seeing and find carrying out everyday tasks difficult as a result of cataracts causing the lens to cloud. According to the National Eye Institute, cataract surgery may also be recommended if the cataract is restricting an optometrist's view of the rest of the eye, which can impact the diagnosis and treatment for other eye conditions. According to the Better Health Channel, approximately 250,000 cataract surgeries are carried out in Australia every year.

How To Prepare for Eye Surgery?

The exact ways to prepare for eye surgery will depend on the type of eye surgery being conducted and what someone's eye health is like. It is important to speak to your eye surgeon or ophthalmologist before eye surgery so you know how to prepare for your surgery.

What is the Recovery Process After Eye Surgery?

The recovery process after eye surgery will depend on the type of eye surgery a person has had and the health of the person undergoing eye surgery. For example, it may only take a few days after cataract surgery for vision to be recovered, according to Better Health Channel.

A person with a bandage over an eye after receiving eye surgery.

Are Eye Surgeries Necessary?

Eye surgeries are necessary where an ophthalmologist and other eye care professionals such as an optometrist, have determined so. Many eye conditions can be treated with other methods before eye surgery is necessary, such as refractive errors. However for serious, sight-threatening conditions such as retinal detachment, surgery may be the only possible treatment, and it is thus necessary.

Can Eye Surgery Correct Vision Problems?

Yes, eye surgery can correct vision problems such as refractive errors and also treat eye conditions that affect a person’s vision. Laser eye surgery is performed to correct a person’s vision by reshaping their cornea, according to Health Direct. Refractive errors are a type of vision issue that causes blurry vision due to the shape of the eye keeping light from focusing correctly on the retina. The eye conditions that can be treated with eye surgery include glaucoma, cataracts and eye misalignment.

Can Children Undergo Eye Surgery?

Yes, children commonly undergo eye surgery to correct their vision or treat eye conditions. According to Pediatric Eye Associates, eye surgery for children is common as many vision and eye conditions are only successfully treated before the eye fully develops. The eye conditions that are treated with eye surgery in children include strabismus, paediatric cataracts and a blocked tear duct.

Can Laser Eye Surgery Treat Astigmatism?

Yes, astigmatism may be treated with laser surgery however it is not necessarily needed. Other treatments for astigmatism include prescription glasses and contact lenses. Astigmatism is a refractive error that causes blurry vision due to either the cornea or the lens being deformed or misshapen which disrupts the eye’s ability to focus light onto the retina. Eye surgery for astigmatism uses a laser to correct the curvature at the front of the eye to give the patient clear vision.

A diagram of a normal eye, with one focal point, next to a diagram of an eye with astigmatism, with multiple focal points.

Does Optic Neuritis Need Eye Surgery?

Eye surgery is not usually a treatment needed for optic neuritis. Optic Neuritis refers to an eye condition in which the optic nerve becomes swollen and inflamed. Optic neuritis can cause eye pain and vision problems. Optic neuritis is typically treated with intravenous (IV) steroids, or treating the initial cause of the swelling.

Does Papilledema Need Eye Surgery?

Some cases of papilledema may be treated with surgery though not necessarily eye surgery. Papilledema refers to swelling of the optic disc, due to raised intracranial pressure. Treatment for papilledema is typically focused on the underlying cause. For example, if papilledema is caused by a brain tumour, surgery may be used to treat this condition and relieve pressure in the skull. Other treatments can include medication and radiation.

Does Aqueous Humour Fluid Build-up Need Eye Surgery?

Aqueous humour fluid build-up can sometimes require surgery, however this is not always the case, with treatment usually centred around the underlying cause of the build-up. Aqueous humour refers to a transparent fluid located in the space between the cornea and the lens, which helps to maintain eye pressure and the shape of the eye. If there are drainage issues within the eye’s structure, it may lead to a build-up of aqueous humour fluid, which can lead to increased intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage. Eye conditions that may be caused by a build-up of aqueous humour including glaucoma. Eye surgery may be recommendedto help relieve intraocular pressure in the eye, by helping the aqueous humour drain.