Eye enucleation removes the entire eyeball under general or local anaesthesia. It treats intraocular tumours, severe trauma, or painful blind eyes. Surgeons leave eye muscles and eyelids intact. They typically insert a spherical orbital implant. This maintains socket volume and enables future prosthetic movement.
- Clinical indications: Used for retinoblastoma, uveal melanoma, or end-stage glaucoma when the eye cannot be saved.
- Surgical approach: Surgeons detach extraocular muscles and cut the optic nerve before removing the globe.
- Orbital implants: Porous polyethylene or biological spheres are inserted to prevent a sunken socket appearance.
- Specialist expertise: Oculoplastic surgeons in Istanbul handle high volumes of complex ocular oncology cases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish eye centres like Dunyagoz serve over 66,000 patients annually, creating a high-volume environment where specialists gain immense experience. Dr Muhammet Derda Ozer, for instance, has performed 25,000+ surgeries and completed vitreo-retina fellowships in the USA. This level of repetition often leads to more refined aesthetic results. This is especially true for the final prosthetic fitting.
Patient Consensus: Enucleation in Turkey is sought for significant cost savings compared to Australia. Packages often bundle five-star hotel stays and VIP transfers. Patients suggest choosing specialised eye hospitals over general clinics for these complex procedures. The surgical care is professional and focuses on health outcomes rather than just cosmetic appearance.