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Glite Dictionary
sclerotomy

sclerotomy

9.9
A cut in the white outer part of the eye to reach the inside
  • noun
  • /sklɪˈrɒtəmi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esclerotomía
  • The doctor performed a sclerotomy to relieve pressure in the eye.

Examples

  • A sclerotomy is sometimes necessary during retinal surgery to access the back of the eye.

  • Complications following a sclerotomy include infection and delayed wound healing.

  • The ophthalmologist performed a sclerotomy to relieve intraocular pressure.

  • After the sclerotomy, the patient was monitored closely.

  • A sclerotomy is sometimes necessary during retinal surgery to access the back of the eye.

  • Complications following a sclerotomy include infection and delayed wound healing.

  • The ophthalmologist performed a sclerotomy to relieve intraocular pressure.

Synonyms

eye surgery
vssclerotomy
  • Specialized
8 3.9

A medical operation on the eye to fix sight problems

is narrower and means one particular incision into the white outer layer
eye operation
vssclerotomy
  • Specialized
1 3.4

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

is a specific cut into the white outer layer of the eyeball

Surface Forms

sclerotomy singular
sclerotomies plural

Morphology

sclerotomy = sclera (transparent) = sclero + tomy

The form combines 'sclera' (the white of the eye) with the surgical suffix '-tomy' meaning 'incision', so the meaning is a straightforward medical compound though both elements are technical.

Etymology

Sclerotomy comes from Greek parts sclero- meaning 'hard' and -otomy meaning 'cutting', the same -otomy you see in lobotomy. So a sclerotomy is literally a 'cut into the hard part of the eye', which explains why it means a surgical incision into the white, tough outer layer of the eyeball.