penetrating keratoplasty
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Related to penetrating keratoplasty: Penetrating keratoplasty surgery
pen·e·trat·ing ker·a·to·plas·ty
corneal transplant with replacement of all layers of the cornea, but retaining the peripheral cornea.
Synonym(s): perforating keratoplasty
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
keratoplasty
Excision of corneal tissue and its replacement by a cornea from a human donor. This can be done either over the entire cornea (total keratoplasty) or over a portion of it (partial keratoplasty). Two main techniques are used: (1) the penetrating keratoplasty in which the entire thickness of the cornea is removed and replaced by transparent corneal tissue; (2) the lamellar keratoplasty in which a superficial layer is removed and replaced by healthy tissue. Common indications to perform keratoplasty are therapeutic (e.g. keratoconus, corneal ulcer) or cosmetic (e.g. removing an unsightly opacity). Syn. corneal transplant. See ciclosporin; granular dystrophy; eye bank; corneal graft; immunosuppressants.
Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009 Butterworth-Heinemann