Definition

A surgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the cornea, which is the clear front part of the eye.

Example

The doctor recommended a keratectomy to improve the patient's vision.

Conversation

I heard my cousin had to get a keratectomy last week.

Oh wow, that sounds serious! What happened?

She had some issues with her vision, so the doctor recommended the surgery.

I hope she's recovering well after the keratectomy.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Keratectomy is formed from "kerato-" (from Greek "keras", meaning horn) and "-ectomy" (from Greek "ektome", meaning excision or cutting out). The term refers to the surgical removal of a part of the cornea, which is the horn-like outer layer of the eye.

Memory Tip

Think of 'horn' ('kerato-') to remember that 'keratectomy' involves the 'cutting out' ('-ectomy') of a part of the eye's outer layer.

Visually Confused Words