(index to Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty) Refractive eye surgery procedure that uses an instrument known as a microkeratome to lift a flap of corneal material and to sculpt the underlying corneal tissue. Has been used successfully in correcting relatively high degrees of nearsightedness and some cases of farsightedness, but has been largely replaced by LASIK and other laser procedures that offer greater accuracy.
A refractive surgery procedure for patients with high nearsightedness where a "pancake" of corneal tissue is removed with a microkeratome.
a surgical procedure utilizing a micro planing device to remove a microscopic section of corneal tissue. Used to correct large amounts of myopia and mild to moderate amounts of hyperopia. This procedure has been replaced by the significantly more accurate laser vision correction techniques. Also known as ALK.
Automated lamellar keratoplasty, or ALK, incorporates use of a microkeratome to resculpt the cornea and produce clearer vision. Unlike the LASIK procedure, a laser is not used during ALK. This treatment is rarely used today due to the advent of more effective procedures.
An incisional refractive surgery method used in low-to-moderate myopia. An automated microkeratome placed on the eye removes, in an oscillating shaving motion, a thin layer of cornea that is microns thick. Subsequent removal of a thinner underlying corneal stroma is performed with stitchless replacement of the initial superficial cap.
A surgical procedure utilizing a microkeratome to remove a thin section of corneal tissue. This procedure was used to correct large amounts of myopia and mild to moderate amounts of hyperopia. This procedure has been replaced by the significantly more accurate Laser Vision Correction techniques.
A procedure in which the surgeon first creates a flap in the uppermost layer of the cornea using a device called a microkeratome. Then the surgeon makes an optical cut after removing additional tissue with a second pass of the microkeratome.
Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty, commonly abbreviated to ALK uses a device called a microkeratome to separate a thin layer of the cornea and create a flap. The flap is then folded back, and the microkeratome removes a thin disc of corneal stroma below. The thickness and diameter of this disc determines the change in refractive error.