Enucleation is removal of the eye, leaving the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact. This type of ocular surgery is indicated for a number of different ocular tumors, in eyes that have suffered severe trauma, and in eyes that are blind and painful owing to other disease.^[1]

Auto-enucleation (oedipism) and other forms of serious self inflicted eye injury are an extremely rare form of severe self-harm which usually results from serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.^[2] The name comes from Oedipus, who gouged out his eyes in penance after having sex with his mother and killing his father.^[3] Some patients have apparently been inspired by the Gospel of Matthew, which states: "...if the right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee" (5:29).^[4]