staphyloma

Latin, from Ancient Greek.

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.

• staphyloma on Wikipedia.Wikipedia