Professional
Technical
IVT
keratoplasty
Pronunciation: ker-ah-toe-plas-tee
Surgical transplantation of corneal tissue to restore vision or structural integrity.
Full Definition
Keratoplasty is a corneal transplant procedure where diseased or damaged corneal tissue is replaced with healthy donor corneal tissue. The procedure can be penetrating (full-thickness) or lamellar (partial-thickness), depending on which layers of the cornea are affected. It is commonly performed to treat conditions such as keratoconus, corneal scarring, or Fuchs' dystrophy. Success rates vary but are generally high, with complications including rejection, infection, and astigmatism.
Usage
Usage note: Specify type (penetrating, lamellar, DMEK, DSEK) when mentioned in surgical reports.
In Context
- "The patient underwent penetrating keratoplasty to address severe corneal scarring from chemical burns." — Operative report
- "Post-keratoplasty care includes frequent topical steroids to prevent graft rejection." — Clinical protocol
Also known as
corneal transplant
corneal graft
Don't confuse with
keratectomy
keratotomy