Eye evisceration

Eye evisceration surgery update: It went great!! I fretted and tried my best to speak with both my doctor and the anesthesiologist in advance. My surgeon called two days prior, and by that time all he could do was alert his anesthesia team and ask me to come to the hospital earlier. Finally spoke with the anesthesiologist about 20 minutes before going into the OR, and his response and planned approach was exactly what I needed to hear, based on our own research and experiences.

Two weeks later, and recovering well. Surgery itself took less than an hour and I was on my way home. One week follow up with the surgeon to remove stitches in my eyelids (sewn shut), with no restrictions after that. My plan now will be to see the surgeon in July to check on healing process before meeting with cosmetic ocularist for my prosthetic. If anyone is interested, I can update you on the process for getting the prosthetic in three months.

This is not a common surgery, which is why is can be nice to hear about others' experiences when you are going through something like it. I'm grateful for this space, and for all of you who have reached out to me for support. Thank you!! I feel very blessed.

Thank you so much for your compassionate understanding and support! It means a lot. Yes, April 22 is an awesome day for so many reasons. Besides also being Earth Day, it was also my grandmother's birthday.

Terri, I very much appreciate your posting an update about your surgery. Throwing ***confetti*** that it went well. What a relief. Your post will give others who have to have this surgery hope and reassurance.

Yes, please post further updates about the July check-up and the meeting with the cosmetic ocularist and the prosthetic. I'd be very interested to learn about that part of the journey.

@tlt, Terri, Now we have your successful surgery to add to this special day. I am happy that the day went so well for you. You were under the care of remarkable doctors who took good care of you, and eased your fears ahead of the procedure!

Will you have any kind of precautions after the stitches are removed?

I will be interested to hear from you after your July check-up.

Hello all, I'm here today to update you on my artificial eye. I was fitted with my ocular prosthetic last week. It was about a five hour process, with several breaks in between. I think it looks pretty good, though my poor right eye socket has been through A LOT in my lifetime, and so the fit is a bit tight. But the movement in conjunction with my "good"eye, the color and size are really excellent. I'm pleased. The thing now is finding the right moisturizing drops to ease the dryness and mucous that forms with artificial eyes. Currently, I am trying a mineral oil drop, and have two others on the way: vitamin E drops, and silicon based drops for artificial eyes. I surely hope someone finds this update helpful.

I will add that there is quite an art to creating artificial eyes. Find a good ocularist because you'll need to have your eye polished periodically, and also replaced after 5 years or so. Our bodies and eye sockets continue to change. Peace and hope to all.

Terri, congratulations on the new artificial eye. So good to get your update! I bet there is quite the art to creating an artificial eye. Incredible that today the artificial eye moves in tandem with the good eye. I had no idea about the need to replace them every 5 years or so, but that makes sense.

I am 80 + yrs old. I had a severe eye injury at the age of 21. I have had 4 corneal transplants and a "tube" operation to relieve eye pressure. I cannot have any more surgeries due to the condition of my eye. I have phthisis bulbi (end stage eye disease) and uveitis. I have been doctoring with a cornea specialist and I have to wear a bandage contact lens and I am using combigan, pred forte, lumigan, and polytrim plus moisture drops. Will my eye qualify for evisceration surgery? Will I have to have enucleation surgery? How long before I have to make a decision? My doctor tells me he doesn't know how long before I have to have surgery and he is just trying to keep any infection from occurring and maintain the current status. I am scared to death not knowing answers regarding the process? The earliest appointment is July before I can see a Ophthalmologic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon for answers and reevaluation. How long before my eye starts shrinking? So many questions.

Hi @renyt and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. So glad to have you. You'll see that I moved your post to a discussion about evisceration so you can meet other members like Terri (@tlt) who has experience with it.

Is there a different surgeon that you can consult with at an earlier date?

Thank you for responding. I will go to the eviseration message board for more info. I just don't know if I will qualify due to the condition of my eye. I have tried to get an earlier appt but cannot. Mid July is the earliest. I am not in any pain yet. I use the antibiotic 4 times a day and moisture drops to keep the bandage lens moist. Renyt

I am facing either evisceration or enucleation down the road - I don't know when or which type of surgery will be recommended. Does my eye have to meet certain health criteria for the evisceration vs enucleation? I appreciated your article. Did you have a choice as to which surgery you had? I am almost 82 yrs old and really scared. I don't know if I can do this. I can't imagine going home the same day!! When I think of it I imagine the pain as unbearable!! I don't think I can look at myself after the surgery!! I can't see myself taking care of it afterwards. I've been through 5 eye surgeries, breast cancer, chemo, reconstruction but this frightens me more than the cancer. Any more information what you have gone through really will help me. I don't have anyone to take care of me and I don't know if I will need assistance. God bless you and hope you are healed and happy with the results of your surgery. Renyt