staphyloma

English

Etymology

Latin, from Ancient Greek.

Noun

staphyloma (plural staphylomas or staphylomata)

1. (medicine) An abnormal protrusion of the uveal tissue through the eyeball.
   • 1818, Samuel Cooper, A Dictionary of practical Surgery:

     Staphyloma is that disease of the eyeball, in which the cornea loses its natural transparency, rises above the level of the eye, and successively even projects beyond the eyelids […]

   • 1836, Thomas Hodgkin, Lectures on the Morbid Anatomy of the Serous and Mucous Membranes:

     One of the forms of staphyloma, which is regarded as in no degree malignant, appears to be essentially composed of a collection of cysts; and, as far as I can judge from mere description, having never had an opportunity of examining a case of the kind myself, is connected with that form of adventitious serous membrane with which we are now occupied.

   • 1869, George Lawson, Diseases and injuries of the Eye: their medical and surgical treatment, page 53:

     Abscission of the staphyloma should never be performed where there is reason to suspect pre-existing disease of the choroid or retina, as deep haemorrhage is likely to follow the removal of the front of the globe, which may necessitate the rest of the eye.

Further reading

• staphyloma on Wikipedia.Wikipedia