An iridectomy, also known as a surgical iridectomy or corectomy,
is the
surgical removal of part of the
iris.
[Cline D; Hofstetter HW; Griffin JR. ''Dictionary of Visual Science''. 4th ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston 1997. ][Surgery Encyclopedia - "Iridectomy."](_blank)
Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers. Retrieved May 20, 2006. These procedures are most frequently performed in the treatment of
closed-angle glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for aqueous humor, fluid withi ...
and iris
melanoma
Melanoma, also redundantly known as malignant melanoma, is a type of skin cancer that develops from the pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. Melanomas typically occur in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye ( ...
.
Comparison with Nd:YAG laser iridotomy
In
acute angle-closure glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for fluid within the eye rem ...
cases, surgical iridectomy has been superseded by
Nd:YAG laser iridotomy, because the laser procedure is much safer. Opening the globe for a surgical iridectomy in a patient with high
intraocular pressure greatly increases the risk of
suprachoroidal hemorrhage
Suprachoroidal drug delivery is an ocular route of drug administration. It involves using a microneedle to provide a minimally invasive method and injecting particles of a medication into the suprachoroidal space (SCS) between the sclera and chor ...
, with potential for associated
expulsive hemorrhage
Expulsion or expelled may refer to:
General
* Deportation
* Ejection (sports)
* Eviction
* Exile
* Expeller pressing
* Expulsion (education)
* Expulsion from the United States Congress
* Extradition
* Forced migration
* Ostracism
* Persona non ...
. Nd:YAG laser iridotomy avoids such a catastrophe by using a laser to create a hole in the iris, which facilitates flow of
aqueous humor from the posterior to the
anterior chamber of the eye.
Current indications
Surgical iridectomy is commonly indicated and performed in the following cases:
* Cataract surgery in a glaucoma patient
* Combined procedure for cataract and glaucoma
* Acute closed-angle glaucoma
* Posterior capsular tears with vitreous loss
* Implantation of anterior chamber
IOL
Cherchell (Arabic: شرشال) is a town on Algeria's Mediterranean coast, west of Algiers. It is the seat of Cherchell District in Tipaza Province. Under the names Iol and Caesarea, it was formerly a Roman colony and the capital of the kin ...
.
* Vitreoretinal procedure involving injection of
silicone oil
A silicone oil is any liquid polymerized siloxane with organic side chains. The most important member is polydimethylsiloxane. These polymers are of commercial interest because of their relatively high thermal stability, lubricating, and Liquid di ...
. The location of the iridectomy in such cases is at 6 o'clock, as opposed to routine iridectomy done at 11 to 1 o'clock. This is because silicone oil is less dense than water.
* Iris trauma
Types
* An antiphogistic iridectomy is the surgical removal of part of the iris to reduce intraocular pressure in inflammatory conditions of the eye.
* A basal iridectomy is an iridectomy which includes the root of the iris.
* An optical iridectomy is the surgical removal of part of the iris to enlarge the existing pupil, or to form an artificial pupil, when the natural pupil is ineffectual.
* A peripheral iridectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the iris in the region of its root, leaving the pupillary margin and sphincter pupillae muscle intact.
It is used in the treatment of glaucoma.
* A preliminary iridectomy, or preparatory iridectomy, is the surgical removal of part of the iris preceding
cataract extraction.
It facilitates the removal of the
cataractous
lens.
* A sector iridectomy, also known as a complete iridectomy or total iridectomy, is the surgical removal of a complete radial section of the iris extending from the pupillary margin to the root of the iris.
A ''key-hole pupil'' is left by the removal of a wedge-shaped section of iris.
[Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. ''Dictionary of Eye Terminology''. Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company, 1990.]
* A stenopeic iridectomy is the surgical removal of a narrow slit or a minute portion of the iris, leaving the sphincter pupillae muscle intact.
* A therapeutic iridectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the iris for the cure or prevention of an ocular disease.
See also
*
Eye surgery
Eye surgery, also known as ophthalmic or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, by an ophthalmologist or sometimes, an optometrist. Eye surgery is synonymous with ophthalmology. The eye is a very fragile organ, and requ ...
*
Glaucoma surgery
*
List of surgeries by type
References
{{Eye surgery
Eye surgery