Keratomileusis

Keratomileusis is a type of refractive surgery used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The term "keratomileusis" originates from the Greek words "kerato," meaning cornea, and "mileusis," meaning carving. The procedure involves reshaping the cornea to allow light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clearer vision.

Procedure

Keratomileusis involves the use of a special type of microkeratome or laser to reshape the cornea. The surgeon creates a flap in the cornea, removes some corneal tissue, and then repositions the flap. This changes the curvature of the cornea and improves the way light is focused onto the retina.

There are several types of keratomileusis procedures, including:

• Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK): This is the most common type of keratomileusis procedure. It uses a laser to reshape the cornea.
• Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK): This procedure is similar to LASIK, but instead of creating a flap in the cornea, the surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea before reshaping it with a laser.
• Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy (LASEK): This is a variation of PRK where the surgeon creates a flap of only the outermost layer of the cornea.

Risks and Complications

Like any surgical procedure, keratomileusis carries some risks. These may include infection, dry eyes, glare, halos, double vision, and loss of vision. It's important to discuss these risks with your ophthalmologist before deciding to undergo the procedure.

Recovery

Recovery from keratomileusis surgery varies depending on the specific procedure and individual patient. Most people notice an improvement in their vision immediately after surgery, but it may take several weeks for vision to stabilize completely.

See Also

• Refractive surgery
• LASIK
• PRK
• LASEK
• Ophthalmology