keratectomy

Eye tissue removal

Keratectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part of the cornea, the transparent front surface of the eye.

Most commonly encountered as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), a laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism: She opted for keratectomy instead of LASIK.

techniques

LASIK

Corneal vision correction

PRKLaser vision correction procedure
femtosecondQuadrillionth of a second

procedure

laser

Concentrated light device

excimerExcited-state diatomic molecule
ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
incisionControlled cut into tissue

flap · debridement · surgical · sterile · outpatient · anesthesia · topical · numbing · suturing · recovery

anatomy

cornea

Eye's clear outer dome

epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
stromaSupportive tissue framework
endotheliumCells lining blood vessels

corneal · tissue · thickness · curvature · transparency · nerve · collagen

correction

myopia

Blurry distance vision

hyperopiaDifficulty seeing nearby objects
astigmatismIrregular corneal curvature disorder
refractiveBending light through media

diopter · visual acuity · nearsightedness · farsightedness · prescription

conditions

dystrophy

Degenerative tissue disorder

ulcerErosive tissue wound
scarPermanent mark from healing
opacityImpermeability to light

Opposites

surgical approach to vision correction

keratectomylens replacement

cataract surgery · vitrectomy · retinal surgery

tissue modification type

keratectomycorneal transplant

Surgical replacement of eye's clear front

implantation

Family

keratitis, ectomy

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