evisceration is an eye removal surgery used when an eye cannot be saved and vision is already lost. It removes the internal contents of the eye while leaving the outer white wall (the sclera) in place. It is most commonly used in ophthalmology to relieve pain, treat severe infection, or address irreversible eye damage. It is different from other eye-removal procedures because key outer structures are preserved.

enucleation is a surgery to remove the entire eyeball (globe) from the eye socket. It is most commonly used in severe eye disease, major trauma, or certain eye cancers. The eyelids and surrounding skin are not removed in enucleation. After healing, many people use an ocular prosthesis (artificial eye) for appearance.

retrobulbar hemorrhage is bleeding that collects behind the eyeball inside the orbit. It can increase pressure within the eye socket and affect vision. The term is commonly used in emergency care, trauma care, and postoperative eye surgery monitoring. Clinicians also discuss it as a potential complication of orbital procedures and injections.

cantholysis is a surgical release of the tendon at the corner of the eyelids (the canthus). It is most commonly discussed as part of emergency care for sudden, dangerous eye socket pressure. Clinicians also use it in selected eyelid and orbital procedures to change eyelid tension or access tissues. The goal is to protect eye function or improve surgical exposure by reducing tightness at the eyelid corner.

canthotomy is a minor surgical cut made at the outer corner of the eyelids (the lateral canthus). canthotomy is most commonly used as an emergency eye procedure to relieve dangerous pressure around the eye. canthotomy is often discussed alongside **cantholysis**, which further releases tight eyelid tissues. canthotomy is used in emergency departments, trauma care, and ophthalmology settings when time matters for vision.

chalazion incision and curettage is a minor eyelid procedure used to treat a chalazion. A chalazion is a firm eyelid lump caused by blockage and inflammation of an oil gland. The procedure opens the lesion and removes the thickened contents to help it resolve. It is commonly performed by ophthalmologists, and sometimes by trained clinicians in eye-care settings.

A lacrimal gland tumor is an abnormal growth involving the lacrimal gland, the tear-producing gland in the outer (temple-side) upper orbit. It is a diagnostic term used in eye care and orbital medicine to describe a mass that may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). It is commonly discussed in ophthalmology, oculoplastics (eyelid/orbit surgery), radiology, and pathology. It often presents as swelling in the upper outer eyelid area or a change in eye position.

lymphangioma is a benign (non-cancerous) malformation of lymphatic vessels. It is often present from birth, even if it becomes noticeable later. Around the eye, it can involve the eyelid, conjunctiva, or orbit (the eye socket). The term is commonly used in ophthalmology, radiology, and pathology reports.

A cavernous hemangioma is a benign vascular lesion made of enlarged blood-filled spaces. In the eye and orbit, it most often refers to a slow-flow venous malformation inside the eye socket. It is a common consideration when evaluating painless, gradually progressive eye bulging (proptosis). The term is also used in pathology and imaging reports to describe similar lesions in other body sites.

An orbital tumor is an abnormal growth located in the orbit, the bony socket that contains the eye and its supporting structures. It may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), and it can arise in the orbit or spread there from elsewhere. The term is commonly used in ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, oncology, and radiology. People often encounter it when evaluating eye bulging, double vision, eyelid swelling, or unexplained changes in vision.

A blowout fracture is a break in one or more thin bones of the eye socket (orbit) after blunt facial trauma. It most often involves the orbital floor or the medial wall near the nose. The term is commonly used in emergency medicine, ophthalmology, and facial trauma care. It matters because it can affect eye position, eye movement, and vision-related symptoms.

An orbital fracture is a break in one or more bones that form the eye socket (the orbit). It most often happens after blunt facial trauma, such as falls, sports injuries, or vehicle collisions. The term is used in emergency care, ophthalmology, and maxillofacial surgery to describe orbit-related facial fractures. An orbital fracture can affect eye position, eye movement, and vision depending on what structures are involved.

orbital decompression is a surgical approach that creates more space inside the eye socket (orbit). It is most commonly used to treat conditions that push the eye forward or crowd structures behind the eye. The goal is to reduce pressure on the eye and optic nerve and improve comfort and function. It is often discussed in the context of thyroid eye disease and certain orbital emergencies.

Graves orbitopathy is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that affects the tissues around the eye. It is commonly associated with Graves disease and other thyroid disorders. It can change eyelid position, eye appearance, and eye movement, and it may affect vision in some cases. The term is used in ophthalmology, optometry, and endocrinology to describe “thyroid eye disease.”

preseptal cellulitis is an infection and inflammation of the eyelid and surrounding skin in front of the orbital septum. It typically causes eyelid swelling, redness, and tenderness without involving the eye socket itself. It is a common diagnosis in urgent eye care, emergency care, pediatrics, and primary care settings. Clinicians use the term to distinguish it from deeper, more serious infections that affect the orbit.

orbital cellulitis is an infection and inflammation of the tissues within the bony eye socket (the orbit). It commonly causes eyelid swelling along with eye pain, reduced eye movement, or vision-related symptoms. In clinical care, “orbital cellulitis” is a diagnosis used to describe a potentially serious eye-and-sinus infection pattern. It is discussed in emergency medicine, ophthalmology, optometry, pediatrics, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) care.

A Jones tube is a small hollow tube placed to help tears drain from the eye into the nose. It is used when the normal tear drainage pathways are blocked or absent. It is most commonly associated with lacrimal (tear duct) surgery for severe watery eye. It creates a direct bypass route for tears.

canalicular repair is a procedure to fix a tear-drainage channel in the eyelid called a canaliculus. It is most commonly done after an eyelid injury that cuts or tears the drainage system. The goal is to restore normal tear outflow and reduce long-term watering of the eye. It is typically performed by ophthalmologists, often those with oculoplastics training.

punctoplasty is a minor eye procedure that enlarges the tear duct opening on the eyelid margin (the punctum). It is most commonly used to improve tear drainage when the punctum is narrowed or scarred. The goal is usually to reduce watery eyes (epiphora) caused by outflow blockage at the punctum. It is performed in ophthalmology and oculoplastic (eyelid and tear system) settings.

nasolacrimal intubation is a technique that places a small soft tube (a stent) into the tear drainage system. It is used to help tears flow from the eye into the nose when the normal pathway is narrowed or blocked. Clinicians most often use it in eye care settings dealing with excessive tearing (epiphora) or tear duct obstruction. It can be used in children or adults, depending on the underlying cause.