The surgical removal of the entire eye along with a part of the optic nerve is termed as?

RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Enucleation is defined as the surgical removal of the entire eyeball (globe) from the orbit.
The procedure involves detaching the extraocular muscles and severing the optic nerve to remove the globe.
It is indicated for intraocular tumors, severe trauma, and management of a painful, blind eye.
Unlike more radical procedures, the orbital contents (muscles, fat) are preserved to support an ocular prosthesis.

Option A: Keratomileusis is a type of refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea to correct vision; it does not involve removing the eye.
Option C: Keratotomy involves making incisions into the cornea to change its shape, typically to correct nearsightedness. It does not involve removing the eye.
Option D: Vitreoretinal surgery refers to procedures performed on the posterior segment of the eye (the vitreous and retina), such as for a retinal detachment. The eyeball is left intact.

Visual 1: Diagram - A comparative illustration showing the anatomical differences between Evisceration, Enucleation, and Exenteration. This helps clarify which structures are removed or preserved in each procedure.
Visual 2: Illustration - A post-enucleation socket fitted with an ocular prosthesis, demonstrating the cosmetic outcome.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Surgical procedures for eye removal as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A primary nursing role is providing psychological and emotional support, as the loss of an eye has a significant impact on a patient's body image and self-esteem.
Post-operative monitoring is critical. The nurse must assess the pressure dressing for signs of bleeding and monitor for complaints of sudden, sharp pain, which could indicate hemorrhage or infection.
Patient education on safety is paramount. The loss of an eye results in the loss of binocular vision and depth perception, increasing the risk of falls and injury. The nurse must teach the patient to be cautious and scan their environment.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the question stem to identify the key actions and structures: 'surgical removal' of the 'entire eye' and 'part of the optic nerve'.
Recognize this is a definition-based recall question requiring knowledge of ophthalmic surgical terms.
Evaluate each option. Use medical terminology prefixes to help. 'Kerato-' refers to the cornea, so 'Keratomileusis' and 'Keratotomy' are likely corneal procedures, not eye removal. This eliminates options A and C.
'Vitreoretinal' refers to the vitreous and retina, structures inside the eye. Surgery on them would not typically involve removing the entire eye. This makes option D unlikely.
This leaves 'Enucleation'. Recall or deduce that this term refers to the removal of the globe, which matches the definition in the question stem.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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