Glossary of Eye Related Terms

Accommodation –
A-scan –
Age Related Macular Degeneration –
Amsler Grid –
Angle –
Anterior chamber –
Aqueous –
ARMD –
Astigmatism – incorrect curvature of the cornea.
BCV – Best Corrected Vision is the best vision corrected by contact or glasses
Bifocals – eyeglasses that correct vision for both nearsightedness and presbyopia.
Blepharitis –
Blepharospasm – twitching of the eyelid.
Blind Spot –
Blindness – the temporary or permanent loss of vision.
Cataract – a natural clouding of the lens of the eye.
Cataract extraction – eye surgery that involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a new synthetic lens.
Cataract Surgeon – Ophthalmologist and eye surgeon who replaces the natural lens of the eye that has clouded with a synthetic lens to improve vision.
Chalazion –
Color Blind –
Comprehensive Eye Exam –
Conjunctivitis –
Contact lens – worn in the eye to correct vision problems.
Cornea –
Corneal Abrasion –
Cross Eyed –
Crystalens –
Diabetic Retinopathy –
Dilation –
Diopter –
Diplopia –
Drusen –
Dry Eye Syndrome –
Endoptalmitis –
Excimer Laser –
Eye Chart –
Farsightedness – problems seeing objects that are close.
Flashes and Floaters –
Foreign Body –
Goniosopy –
Glaucoma –
Halos –
Headache –
Hyperopia –
Idesign –
Intralase – femtosecond laser used to create LASIK flaps.
Intraocular Lens –
Intraocular Pressure –
Iris –
Iritis –
IOL Master –
Karataconus –
Laser – there are many different uses of lasers in ophthalmology.
Laser Cataract Surgery – new way to do cataract surgery where lasers are used to assist the eye surgeon by making precise cuts.
Laser Eye Surgery – eye surgery to help correct vision by using a laser to reshape the cornea. Includes PRK, LASIK and SMILE Vision Correction.
LASIK Eye Surgery – laser eye surgery where a flap is created and a laser is used to correct the shape of the cornea.
LASIK flap – flap used in LASIK cut in the cornea. Can be cut with a microkeratome blade, femtosecond laser
Legal Blindness –
Lens –
Lenstar – provides optical measurements of all areas of the eye from the cornea to the retina
Lensx Laser – Alcon laser used in laser cataract eye surgery. Can also be used to create LASIK flaps.
LRI (limbal relaxing incision) – used in cataract surgery to reduce astigmatism. Can be done manually or with a laser such as the Lensx.
Macula –
Macular Degeneration –
Macular Edema –
Macular Hole –
Microkeratome –
Mono vision – corrects one eye for distance and one eye for near in cataract and laser eye surgery.
Multifocal lens – lenses used in cataract surgery that corrects vision for near, intermediate and far.
Myopic – see nearsighted
Nearsighted – vision that is blurry for far away objects. Caused by light not focusing in the eye correctly.
OCT –
Ocular –
Ophthalmologist – Medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.
Optic Nerve –
Optician – medical professional that has experience making eyeglasses.
Optometrist – medical professional that performs eye exams.
ORA Smart Vision – technology used during cataract surgery to determine the power of the replacement lens.
Pentacam –
Peripheral Vision –
Phacoemulsification (fay-koh-ee-mul-sih-fih-KAY-shun) –
Phoropter – ophthalmic testing device used to refract
Photophobia –
Presbyopia – Natural occurrence in people over 40 that causes reading glasses.
PRK or photorefractive keratectomy – Laser eye surgery that uses a laser to correct the shape of the cornea without the use of a flap. One of the first laser eye surgeries approved by the FDA.
Pseudophakia –
Pterygium –
Pupil –
Refraction – ophthalmic medical test used to determine the prescription required to correct vision.
Refractive error –
Restor lens – premium multifocal lens used in cataract surgery that corrects vision for near, intermediate and far.
Retina –
Retinal Detachment –
Retinopathy –
Routine Eye Exam – usually perform annually and can help to catch and diagnose eye problems early helping to minimize vision loss and permanent damage.
Slit Lamp – ophthalmic device used to examine the eye
SMILE Vision Correction – the newest Laser Eye Surgery that involves cutting and removing a small disc like contact from the eye. SMILE does not require a flap like LASIK eye surgery.
Strabismus –
Sty –
Symfony lens – premium lens designed to correct presbyopia in cataract surgery.
Tonometry –
Toric lens – lens used in cataract surgery that corrects astigmatism.
Tunnel Vision –
Vision – the ability to see by light coming through and focusing in the eye.
Vision Correction – involves the use of eye surgery, medication, glasses or contacts to correct eyesight.
Visual Acuity –
Visual Field –
Visumax Laser – Zeiss femtosecond laser that is used to perform SMILE eye surgery. Can also be used to create LASIK flaps.
Visx Star 44 Laser – AMO excimer laser used in laser eye surgery (LASIK and PRK).
Vitreous –
Yag Laser –

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