glossary

keratometer (opthalmometer)

Definition keratometer (opthalmometer)

keratometer (opthalmometer)

keratometer (opthalmometer) n. an instrument for measuring the radius of curvature of the cornea. It is used for accessing the degree of abnormal curvature of the cornea in *astigmatism. Usually the vertical and horizontal curvatures are measured. All keratometers work on the principle that the size of an object reflected from a convex mirror (in the case, the cornea) depends on the curvature of the mirror. The steeper of the curve, the smaller the image. -keratometry n.