Epikeratophakia
Epikeratophakia (pronounced: epi-kerato-phakia) is a surgical procedure used to correct refractive errors of the eye. It involves the grafting of a prepared donor cornea onto the patient's cornea.
Etymology
The term "Epikeratophakia" is derived from the Greek words "epi" (meaning 'upon'), "kerato" (meaning 'cornea'), and "phakia" (meaning 'lens').
Procedure
In Epikeratophakia, a lenticule (a thin disc of corneal tissue) is prepared from a donor cornea and is then sutured onto the patient's cornea. The lenticule changes the shape of the cornea, thereby altering its refractive power and correcting the patient's vision. The procedure is reversible and does not involve the removal of any of the patient's corneal tissue.
Indications
Epikeratophakia is used to correct various refractive errors, including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. It can also be used to treat keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea becomes cone-shaped.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, Epikeratophakia carries some risks. These may include infection, rejection of the donor cornea, and changes in the shape of the cornea that can lead to vision problems.
Related Terms
- Refractive surgery: A type of eye surgery used to correct refractive errors.
- Keratoplasty: A surgical procedure in which the cornea is reshaped or replaced.
- Cornea: The clear front surface of the eye.
- Astigmatism: A common vision condition that causes blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens.
- Myopia: A condition in which close objects appear clearly, but far ones don't.
- Hyperopia: A condition in which distant objects may be seen more clearly than objects that are near.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Epikeratophakia
- Wikipedia's article - Epikeratophakia
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski