Biomaterial Database

[Refractive surgery of the cornea. Corneal surgery--an alternative to optical aids?]. 1991

T Seiler, and J Wollensak

Augenklinik im Klinikum Charlottenburg, Freien Universität Berlin.

Errors of refraction of the eye can be corrected not only by means of spectacles, contact lenses or intra-ocular lenses, but also by operative procedures on the cornea. At present, correction of myopia is accomplished with radial keratotomy (RK), a procedure that achieves the best results in the range up to - 6.0 diopters. However, on account of its side effects, in particular poor predictability, the method is no true alternative to the use of optical aids. Epikeratoplasty done to correct hyperopia and aphakia, is even more imprecise, and should only be employed in exceptional cases. Laser surgery of the cornea is still undergoing clinical testing, but has already produced promising results.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006956	Hyperopia	A refractive error in which rays of light entering the eye parallel to the optic axis are brought to a focus behind the retina, as a result of the eyeball being too short from front to back. It is also called farsightedness because the near point is more distant than it is in emmetropia with an equal amplitude of accommodation. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Farsightedness,Hypermetropia
D007646	Keratotomy, Radial	A procedure to surgically correct REFRACTIVE ERRORS by cutting radial slits into the CORNEA to change its refractive properties.	Radial Keratotomy,Keratotomies, Radial,Radial Keratotomies
D009216	Myopia	A refractive error in which rays of light entering the EYE parallel to the optic axis are brought to a focus in front of the RETINA when accommodation (ACCOMMODATION, OCULAR) is relaxed. This results from an overly curved CORNEA or from the eyeball being too long from front to back. It is also called nearsightedness.	Nearsightedness,Myopias,Nearsightednesses
D003315	Cornea	The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Corneas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001251	Astigmatism	Unequal or irregular curvature of the CORNEA (Corneal astigmatism) and/or the EYE LENS (Lenticular astigmatism) resulting in REFRACTIVE ERROR.	Corneal Astigmatism,Hyperopic Astigmatism,Lenticular Astigmatism,Mixed Astigmatism,Myopic Astigmatism,Oblique Astigmatism,Astigmatism, Corneal,Astigmatism, Hyperopic,Astigmatism, Lenticular,Astigmatism, Mixed,Astigmatism, Myopic,Astigmatism, Oblique,Hyperopic Astigmatisms,Mixed Astigmatisms,Myopic Astigmatisms,Oblique Astigmatisms
D015948	Keratoplasty, Penetrating	Partial or total replacement of all layers of a central portion of the cornea.	Keratoplasties, Penetrating,Penetrating Keratoplasties,Penetrating Keratoplasty
D053685	Laser Therapy	The use of photothermal effects of LASERS to coagulate, incise, vaporize, resect, dissect, or resurface tissue.	Laser Knife,Laser Scalpel,Surgery, Laser,Vaporization, Laser,Laser Ablation,Laser Knives,Laser Photoablation of Tissue,Laser Surgery,Laser Tissue Ablation,Nonablative Laser Treatment,Pulsed Laser Tissue Ablation,Ablation, Laser,Ablation, Laser Tissue,Knife, Laser,Knifes, Laser,Knive, Laser,Knives, Laser,Laser Knifes,Laser Knive,Laser Scalpels,Laser Surgeries,Laser Therapies,Laser Treatment, Nonablative,Laser Treatments, Nonablative,Laser Vaporization,Nonablative Laser Treatments,Scalpel, Laser,Scalpels, Laser,Surgeries, Laser,Therapies, Laser,Therapy, Laser,Tissue Ablation, Laser
D054140	Refractive Surgical Procedures	Surgical procedures employed to correct REFRACTIVE ERRORS such as MYOPIA; HYPEROPIA; or ASTIGMATISM. These may involve altering the curvature of the CORNEA; removal or replacement of the CRYSTALLINE LENS; or modification of the SCLERA to change the axial length of the eye.	Keratorefractive Surgical Procedures,Refractive Surgery,Keratorefractive Surgical Procedure,Procedure, Keratorefractive Surgical,Procedure, Refractive Surgical,Procedures, Keratorefractive Surgical,Procedures, Refractive Surgical,Refractive Surgeries,Refractive Surgical Procedure,Surgeries, Refractive,Surgery, Refractive,Surgical Procedure, Keratorefractive,Surgical Procedure, Refractive,Surgical Procedures, Keratorefractive,Surgical Procedures, Refractive