In simple words: This procedure improves vision by implanting a specially shaped piece of donor cornea into the patient's eye. A thin flap of the patient's cornea is lifted, the donor tissue is inserted, and the flap is closed.

Surgical implantation of a donor cornea into the patient’s anterior cornea to improve refraction and enhance vision. The procedure involves using a microkeratome to remove a partial thickness, disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue from the anterior surface of the cornea. A previously lathed donor corneal tissue is then placed on the eye and affixed over the resected corneal tissue. The flap is closed and sutured into place.

Example 1: A patient with severe myopia not correctable by other means undergoes keratophakia to improve their vision., A patient with post-surgical corneal scarring undergoes keratophakia for vision restoration. , A patient with keratoconus, in which the cornea thins and bulges outward, might undergo keratophakia.

Documentation should include pre-operative corneal topography, surgical notes detailing the procedure, type of donor tissue used, and post-operative visual acuity measurements.