Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
enucleation
Pronunciation: ee-NEW-klee-AY-shun
Surgical removal of the entire eyeball while preserving the extraocular muscles and orbital contents.
Full Definition
Enucleation is the complete surgical removal of the eye, typically performed for intraocular malignancies, severe trauma, or painful blind eyes. The procedure involves severing the extraocular muscles and optic nerve while maintaining the muscle insertions and orbital fat. An orbital implant is usually placed to maintain orbital volume and provide motility for a future prosthetic eye. This differs from evisceration, which preserves the scleral shell.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from evisceration (contents removed, sclera preserved) and exenteration (entire orbital contents removed).
In Context
- "Primary enucleation was recommended for the large uveal melanoma involving the posterior pole." — Oncology consultation report
- "Post-enucleation socket syndrome was prevented by adequate orbital implant sizing." — Surgical outcome analysis
Also known as
eye removal
Contrasted with
eye preservation
globe salvage
Don't confuse with
evisceration
exenteration