enucleation
Pronunciation: ee-NOO-klee-AY-shun
Complete surgical removal of the eyeball while preserving the extraocular muscles and orbital contents.
Full Definition
Enucleation is the surgical removal of the entire eyeball while leaving the extraocular muscles, orbital fat, and other orbital structures intact. This procedure is typically performed for severe trauma, painful blind eyes, or intraocular malignancies such as retinoblastoma or uveal melanoma. Following enucleation, an orbital implant is usually placed to maintain orbital volume and provide motility for a prosthetic eye. The procedure differs from evisceration, which removes only the intraocular contents while preserving the scleral shell, and exenteration, which removes all orbital contents including the eyelids.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish carefully from evisceration and exenteration in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "Primary enucleation was recommended due to the large posterior uveal melanoma with extrascleral extension." — Oncology consultation note
- "The patient underwent enucleation with hydroxyapatite orbital implant placement and prosthetic fitting." — Surgical procedure report