epikeratoplasty


epikeratoplasty

A surgical procedure on the cornea aimed at correcting ametropia. The patient's corneal epithelium is removed and a donor's corneal disc (or lenticule) that was previously frozen and reshaped to produce a new anterior curvature is rehydrated and sutured to Bowman's membrane. The lenticule can be removed and exchanged to provide a different power. There are many problems associated with this procedure, in particular the surface re-epithelialization. Syn. epikeratophakia; refractive keratoplasty and keratorefractive surgery (both terms also include keratomileusis, keratophakia and radial keratotomy). See Intacs; keratomileusis; keratophakia; photorefractive keratectomy; LASIK; LASEK; lenticule.