Dictionary of ophthalmology

The Dictionary of Ophthalmology offers detailed explanations of terms and concepts related to the field of ophthalmology, the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyeball and orbit.

A[edit | edit source]

Acanthamoeba keratitis - A rare but serious infection of the cornea caused by the Acanthamoeba organism, often associated with contact lens use.
Accommodation - The eye's ability to change its focus from distant to near objects through the movement of the ciliary muscles.

B[edit | edit source]

Binocular vision - The ability to maintain visual focus on an object with both eyes, creating a single visual image.
Blepharitis - An inflammation of the eyelids that can cause irritation, itching, and occasionally red eyes.

C[edit | edit source]

Cataract - Clouding of the eye's natural lens, which leads to a decrease in vision.
Conjunctivitis - Also known as "pink eye," it is an inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid.

D[edit | edit source]

Diabetic retinopathy - A diabetes complication that affects the eyes and can lead to blindness.
Diopter - A unit of measurement of the optical power of a lens or curved mirror.

E[edit | edit source]

Exophthalmos - Bulging of the eyes out of the orbit, often associated with thyroid disease.
Eye strain - Discomfort when looking at something for a long time, sometimes associated with headaches and blurred vision.

F[edit | edit source]

Fundus - The interior surface of the eye opposite the lens, including the retina, optic disc, macula, and posterior pole.
Floaters - Small shapes that some people see floating in their field of vision.

G[edit | edit source]

Glaucoma - A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye.
Gonioscopy - An eye examination to check whether the angle where the iris meets the cornea is open or closed, important for diagnosing glaucoma.

H[edit | edit source]

Hyperopia - Also known as farsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects may be seen more clearly than objects that are near.
Heterochromia - A difference in coloration, usually of the iris but also of hair or skin.

I[edit | edit source]

Intraocular lens (IOL) - A lens implanted in the eye used to treat cataracts or myopia.
Iritis - Inflammation of the iris of the eye.

J[edit | edit source]

Jaeger eye chart - A chart used to measure near vision acuity.
Juxtapapillary - Located near the optic disc (papilla) in the eye.

K[edit | edit source]

Keratitis - Inflammation of the cornea.
Keratoconus - A progressive thinning of the cornea.

L[edit | edit source]

Lacrimal glands - Glands located in the upper outer region of the orbit which produce tears.
Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) - A surgery that changes the shape of the cornea to correct vision.

M[edit | edit source]

Macular degeneration - A medical condition that may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field.
Myopia - Also known as nearsightedness, a condition where close objects appear clearly, but far ones don't.

N[edit | edit source]

Nystagmus - A vision condition in which the eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements, often resulting in reduced vision.
Neovascularization - The growth of new blood vessels, typically in an area where they are not supposed to grow, such as in the cornea.

O[edit | edit source]

Ocular hypertension - Higher than normal intraocular pressure (IOP), which is a risk factor for glaucoma.
Optic neuritis - Inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision.

P[edit | edit source]

Presbyopia - The gradual loss of your eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects.
Pterygium - A growth of fleshy tissue on the white of the eye that may eventually lead to impaired vision.

Q[edit | edit source]

Quantitative perimetry - A visual field test that measures the entire scope of vision, including peripheral vision.
Queratometry - The measurement of the curvature of the cornea.

R[edit | edit source]

Retinal detachment - An emergency condition in which a thin layer of tissue (the retina) at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position.
Refractive error - A problem with focusing light properly onto the retina due to the shape of the eye.

S[edit | edit source]

Strabismus - A condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object.
Slit lamp - An instrument consisting of a high-intensity light source that can be focused to shine as a slit used to examine the eye.

T[edit | edit source]

Tonometry - The method eye care professionals use to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP), the fluid pressure inside the eye.
Trachoma - A bacterial infection that affects your eyes and can cause blindness.

U[edit | edit source]

Uveitis - Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.

V[edit | edit source]

Visual acuity - Sharpness or clarity of vision.
Vitreous hemorrhage - Bleeding into the jelly-like filling of the back part of your eye.

W[edit | edit source]

Wet macular degeneration - A chronic eye disorder that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in your visual field.

X[edit | edit source]

Xanthelasma - A condition that causes the development of yellowish cholesterol-filled deposits underneath the skin around the eyelids.

Y[edit | edit source]

YAG laser capsulotomy - A laser treatment used to improve vision after cataract surgery.

Z[edit | edit source]

Zeiss gland - A type of gland in the eyelids that secretes an oily substance to lubricate the eyes.

List of ophthalmology articles[edit | edit source]

Also see[edit | edit source]

Glossary of ophthalmology Ophthalmology

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