KERATOTOMY Meaning and
Definition
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Keratotomy is a medical procedure used to correct refractive errors in the eye. It involves making precise incisions or cuts in the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. The purpose of keratotomy is to reshape the cornea, thereby altering the way light enters the eye and improving vision.
There are different types of keratotomy procedures based on the specific refractive error being addressed. For instance, radial keratotomy (RK) is commonly performed to treat nearsightedness (myopia). In this procedure, a series of radial incisions are made on the cornea, resembling spokes of a wheel, to flatten its curvature and reduce the eye's focusing power.
Another variation, astigmatic keratotomy (AK), is used to correct astigmatism, a condition characterized by an irregular corneal curvature. Instead of radial cuts, AK involves creating arc-shaped incisions at specific meridians of the cornea, which help to normalize its shape and correct the refractive error associated with astigmatism.
Keratotomy procedures, depending on their complexity, are typically performed using local anesthesia. They are often carried out with the aid of a specialized surgical instrument called a microkeratome or using laser-based techniques such as LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis). The goal of keratotomy is to reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses, offering patients enhanced visual acuity and a decreased reliance on glasses or contact lenses.
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Incision through the cornea.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for KERATOTOMY
- jeratotomy
- meratotomy
- leratotomy
- oeratotomy
- ieratotomy
- kwratotomy
- ksratotomy
- kdratotomy
- krratotomy
- k4ratotomy
- k3ratotomy
- keeatotomy
- kedatotomy
- kefatotomy
- ketatotomy
- ke5atotomy
- ke4atotomy
- kerztotomy
- kerstotomy
- karatotomy
Etymology of KERATOTOMY
The word "keratotomy" is derived from the Greek words "keras", which means "horn" or "cornea", and "tomē", which means "cutting" or "incision". Hence, "keratotomy" refers to a surgical procedure involving incision or cutting of the cornea.
Similar spelling words for KERATOTOMY
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