High-Yield Ophthalmic & Eye Surgery Review for the CST Exam

CST Review Site: www.SurgicalTechReview.com Amazon Links: Surgical Tech Guide Procedure Steps and Anticipation Tips https://a.co/d/09Fy6AYM Surgical Tech Workbook: https://a.co/d/08zV8INB Welcome to this comprehensive overview of Ophthalmic and Eye Surgery, specifically tailored for college Surgical Technologist students preparing for the CST certification exam! In this video, we break down essential eye anatomy, tricky fluid chambers, and the highly tested surgical procedures you absolutely must know to succeed in the operating room and on your boards. 🔑 Key Takeaways & Topics Covered: The Three "E" Removals: You must know the difference between these terms! Evisceration is removing only the inner contents of the eye while leaving the white sclera intact . Enucleation is the removal of the entire eyeball, but leaving the surrounding extraocular muscles . Exenteration is the most extreme, removing the eyeball plus all surrounding muscles and tissues . Eye Chambers & Fluids: Don't get tricked by the cavities! The anterior cavity sits in front of the lens and contains watery aqueous humor . It is divided into the anterior chamber (in front of the iris) and the posterior chamber (behind the iris) . The large area behind the lens is the vitreous chamber (or posterior cavity), which is filled with thick, jelly-like vitreous humor . Glaucoma & Drainage Procedures: Glaucoma is caused by a buildup of aqueous humor pressure that presses against the lens and vitreous humor, eventually damaging the optic nerve . We cover surgical fixes like an iridectomy (cutting a hole in the iris to let fluid flow) and a trabeculectomy (creating a drainage hole and "bleb" in the sclera) . Cataracts vs. Keratoplasty: Understand the clear distinction between these two surgeries. A cataract is a cloudy lens treated with a phacoemulsifier (which uses ultrasonic waves to shatter and extract the old lens) before inserting an artificial one . A keratoplasty is a corneal transplant, which requires a circular blade called a trephine to cut out the damaged cornea . Retinal Detachment: When the retina pulls away from the vascular choroid, it can lead to blindness . We review fixes like a scleral buckle (placing a tiny belt around the eyeball to push the sclera inward against the retina) and a vitrectomy (removing the vitreous humor and filling the eye with gas, saline, or silicone oil to push the retina back into place) . DCR & Eyelid Procedures: We break down a Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), a procedure to create a new tear drainage opening between a blocked lacrimal duct and the nose . We also cover chalazion surgery, which removes a stye caused by an inflamed meibomian (oil) gland in the eyelid , and entropion surgery, which fixes an inward-turning eyelid that causes eyelashes to scratch the eye . Good luck studying, and remember that breaking down complex terms like dacryocystorhinostomy into their anatomical roots and suffixes will help you quickly navigate any tricky ophthalmic questions on exam day!