Definition

1. Noun:
   • A surgical procedure on the eye: An iridectomy is a specific type of eye surgery. It involves the surgical removal of a portion of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye.
   • A treatment for a specific eye condition: This operation is performed primarily to treat or prevent closed-angle glaucoma, a condition where increased pressure in the eye can damage the optic nerve.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ophthalmologist recommended an iridectomy to relieve the pressure in her eye.
  • After the iridectomy, the patient's risk of an acute glaucoma attack was significantly reduced.
  • A peripheral iridectomy creates a small hole in the iris to improve fluid drainage.

Advanced Usage

• "Prophylactic iridectomy": A preventive surgery performed on an eye at high risk for developing closed-angle glaucoma, even before an acute attack occurs.
  • The doctor suggested a prophylactic iridectomy for her other eye.
• "Sector iridectomy": A procedure where a wedge-shaped section of the iris is removed.
  • A sector iridectomy was necessary due to the extent of the damage.

Variants and Related Words

• Iridotomy (noun): A related laser procedure that creates a hole in the iris without removing tissue. It is often used for similar conditions as an iridectomy.
  • For some patients, a laser iridotomy is preferred over a surgical iridectomy.

Synonyms

• Iris surgery: A general term for surgical procedures involving the iris.
• Filtering surgery: A broader category of glaucoma surgeries that includes procedures like iridectomy to create a new drainage pathway.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is highly specific to ophthalmology (the branch of medicine concerning the eyes). It refers exclusively to the surgical removal of iris tissue and is not a general term for any eye operation.
• The purpose is therapeutic, aiming to cure or manage a disease (glaucoma), not cosmetic.

Noun

1. an eye operation that treats closed-angle glaucoma by surgical removal of part of the iris of the eye