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Glite Dictionary
Kayser-Fleischer ring

Kayser-Fleischer ring

1 9.9
A golden-brown or green ring at the edge of the clear front of the eye seen in Wilson's disease
  • noun
  • /ˈkaɪzər ˈflaɪʃər rɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anillo de Kayser-Fleischer
  • During the eye examination, the doctor noticed the characteristic Kayser-Fleischer ring around the patient's cornea.

Examples

  • The Kayser-Fleischer ring is significant.

  • Kayser-Fleischer rings are often detected by slit-lamp examination in people with hepatic copper accumulation.

  • The presence of a Kayser-Fleischer ring is a key diagnostic feature in Wilson's disease.

  • Look at that Kayser-Fleischer ring!

  • The doctor noticed a distinct Kayser-Fleischer ring in the patient's eyes, indicating a possible case of Wilson's disease.

  • During the eye examination, the presence of a Kayser-Fleischer ring raised concerns about the patient's liver function.

  • He was diagnosed with Wilson's disease after the ophthalmologist identified a Kayser-Fleischer ring around his cornea.

Surface Forms

Kayser-Fleischer ring singular
Kayser-Fleischer rings plural

Morphology

Kayser-Fleischer + ring

This is an eponymous medical term: knowing the word 'ring' only yields a vague notion of a circular shape, while 'Kayser-Fleischer' is a proper name with no descriptive meaning for learners. The specific medical sense (a pigmented corneal ring characteristic of Wilson's disease) cannot be derived from the constituents, so a B1 learner who only knows the parts would not understand the full meaning.

Etymology

Kayser-Fleischer ring is named after two doctors, Kayser and Fleischer, who first described a thin golden-brown or green ring at the edge of the front of the eye. They found this color came from copper building up in the body, so the term now means the eye ring doctors look for to help diagnose 'Wilson's disease'.