Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
canthotomy

canthotomy

1 9.9
A cut at the corner of the eye to lower pressure after an injury
  • noun
  • /kænˈθɑːtəmi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cantotomía
  • In cases of severe trauma, a canthotomy may be performed to reduce pressure and preserve vision.
  • lateral canthotomy

Examples

  • One patient required a lateral canthotomy for temporary acute visual impairment after treatment.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The doctor performed a canthotomy to relieve the pressure caused by the swollen tissue around the patient's eye.

  • After examining the injury, the surgeon decided that a canthotomy was necessary to prevent further complications.

Synonyms

eye surgery
vscanthotomy
  • Specialized
8 3.9

A medical operation on the eye to fix sight problems

is a focused cut to relieve pressure or injury rather than broad treatment
eye operation
vscanthotomy
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A surgery on the eye to fix vision or treat eye problems

is a targeted cut to relieve pressure or treat injury rather than general surgery

Surface Forms

canthotomy singular
canthotomies plural

Morphology

canthotomy = canthus (opaque) = canth + otomy

This is a technical medical formation using Greek combining forms ('canth-' + '-otomy') that will not be derivable by average learners from everyday vocabulary.

Etymology

Canthotomy breaks into cantho- and -tomy; cantho- comes from the Greek word canthus meaning 'corner of the eye', and -tomy means 'cut', the same root you see in anatomy. So a canthotomy is literally a 'cut' at the eye's corner to reduce pressure or treat an injury.