keratotomy
1
8.4
- noun
- /ˌkɛrəˈtɑːtəmi/
- Specialized
- After the keratotomy, her eyesight improved significantly, allowing her to read without glasses for the first time in years.
- radial keratotomy
Examples
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The surgeon performed a keratotomy to reshape the cornea and improve the patient's distance vision.
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Advances in keratotomy have greatly improved outcomes for those with corneal diseases.
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Many patients recover quickly after undergoing a keratotomy procedure.
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The surgeon performed a keratotomy to treat the patient’s severe astigmatism.
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The keratotomy was successful in improving her vision.
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Many patients opt for keratotomies to enhance their eyesight.
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During the consultation, the doctor explained the risks of keratotomy and its potential benefits for vision correction.
Synonyms
1
6.1
Surgery that makes cuts in the clear front of the eye to change its shape and improve near vision
Compounds
- Archaic
1
6.1
Surgery that makes cuts in the clear front of the eye to change its shape and improve near vision
How Invasive
- Specialized
1
4.2
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
8.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
keratotomy = cornea (semi-transparent) = kerat + otomy
The word names a surgical cut of the cornea and is predictable if the learner recognises 'cornea' and the medical suffix '-otomy', but both elements are technical medical forms rather than common everyday morphemes.
Etymology
Keratotomy comes from two Greek parts: kerato- meaning 'horn' and -tomy meaning 'cutting', and kerato- is the same root as keratin, which is found in hair and nails. So a keratotomy is literally a surgical 'cut' in the cornea, the clear front of the eye, used to change its shape and improve vision.