Keratoplasty
/ˌkɛr.əˈtɒp.læ.sti/noun
Surgical repair or reconstruction of the cornea.
Did you know?Keratoplasty comes from Greek keras/keratos, meaning “horn,” a root also found in words like keratin and unicorn, showing how medical language still carries ancient body-magic imagery.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
κέρας (kéras), gen. κέρατος (kératos)
“horn”
Ancient Greek
GRK
πλαστός (plastós)
“molded, formed”
Modern Scientific Latin
NL
keratoplastica
“surgical molding/reconstruction of the cornea”
19th Century
EN
keratoplasty
“a surgical operation to repair or replace the cornea”
Modern English
EN
keratoplasty
“surgical repair or reconstruction of the cornea”