Glossary of ophthalmology

accommodation - (physiology) the automatic adjustment in focal length of the lens of the eye; the act of providing something (lodging or seat or food) to meet a need; living quarters provided for public convenience; in the theories of Jean Piaget: the modification of internal representations in order to accommodate a changing knowledge of reality; a settlement of differences; making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances

acorea - absence of the pupil in an eye

adaptation - (physiology) the responsive adjustment of a sense organ (as the eye) to varying conditions (as of light); a written work (as a novel) that has been recast in a new form; the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions)

amaurosis - partial or total loss of sight without pathology of the eye; caused by disease of optic nerve or retina or brain

ambassador - a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another; an informal representative

amblyopia - visual impairment without apparent organic pathology

anatomical - of or relating to the structure of the body; of or relating to the branch of morphology that studies the structure of organisms; an expression that relates to anatomy

anatomy - a detailed analysis; the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals; alternative names for the body of a human being

aniseikonia - visual defect in which the shape and size of an ocular image differ in the two eyes

anisometropia - difference in the refractive power of the two eyes

anthropologist - a social scientist who specializes in anthropology

aphakia - absence of the natural lens of the eye (usually resulting from the removal of cataracts)

aqueous humour - the limpid fluid within the eyeball between the cornea and the lens

arcus senilis - an whitish deposit in the shape of an arc that is sometimes seen in the cornea

ashton - British choreographer (1906-1988)

astigmatism - (optics) defect in an optical system in which light rays from a single point fail to converge in a single focal point; (ophthalmology) impaired eyesight resulting usually from irregular conformation of the cornea

bifocals - eyeglasses having two focal lengths

black eye - a bad reputation; an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating; a swollen bruise caused by a blow to the eye

blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelids characterized by redness and swelling and dried crusts

blepharospasm - spasm of the eyelid muscle resulting in closure of the eye

blind spot - the point where the optic nerve enters the retina; not sensitive to light; a subject about which you are ignorant or prejudiced and fail to exercise good judgment

blindfold - wearing a blindfold; a cloth used to cover the eyes; verb cover the eyes of (someone) to prevent him from seeing

blinding - shining intensely

blindness - the state of being blind or lacking sight

blinking - closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly; (used of persons) informal intensifiers; a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

blood - temperament or disposition; the fluid (red in vertebrates) that is pumped by the heart; people viewed as members of a group; the descendants of one individual; a dissolute man in fashionable society; verb smear with blood, as in a hunting initiation rite, where the face of a person is smeared with the blood of the kill

blue-eyed - having blue eyes; favorite

bonnet - a hat tied under the chin; protective covering consisting of a metal part that covers the engine; verb dress in a bonnet

brand - a recognizable kind; identification mark on skin, made by burning; a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning; a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard; a symbol of disgrace or infamy; a name given to a product or service; verb burn with a branding iron to indicate ownership; of animals; mark or expose as infamous; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful

breezy - fresh and animated; abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes

british columbia - a province in western Canada

burberry - a lightweight belted raincoat typically made of tan gabardine with a distinctive tartan lining; named for the original manufacturer

calvin klein - United States fashion designer noted for understated fashions (born in 1942)

canthus - either of the corners of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet

cataract - a large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice; clouding of the natural lens of the eye

chalazion - a small sebaceous cyst of the eyelid resulting when a Meibomian gland is blocked

chemosis - edema of the mucous membrane of the eyeball and eyelid lining

chennai - a city in Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal; formerly Madras

chorioretinitis - inflammation of the choroid layer behind the retina

choroid - a highly vascular membrane in the eye between the retina and the sclera

ciliary body - the part of the tunic of the eye between the choroid coat and the iris

ciprofloxacin - an oral antibiotic (trade name Cipro) used against serious bacterial infections of the skin or respiratory tract or urinary tract or bones or joints

clearly - adv. without doubt or question; in an easily perceptible manner; clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment; in an intelligible manner

clothing - a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

collyrium - lotion consisting of a solution used as a cleanser for the eyes

color blindness - genetic inability to distinguish differences in hue

company - an institution created to conduct business; a unit of firefighters including their equipment; a social gathering of guests or companions; organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical); small military unit; usually two or three platoons; the state of being with someone; crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship; a band of people associated temporarily in some activity; a social or business visitor; verb be a companion to somebody

compound eye - in insects and some crustaceans: composed of many light-sensitive elements each forming a portion of an image

cone cell - visual receptor cell sensitive to color

conjunctiva - a transparent membrane covering the eyeball and under surface of the eyelid

conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye

contact lens - a thin curved glass or plastic lens designed to fit over the cornea in order to correct vision or to deliver medication

cornea - transparent anterior portion of the outer covering of the eye; it covers the lens and iris and is continuous with the sclera

crazy quilt - a patchwork quilt without a design

cricketer - an athlete who plays cricket

dacryocystitis - inflammation of the lacrimal sac causing obstruction of the tube draining tears into the nose

daredevil - presumptuously daring; a reckless impetuous irresponsible person

darkness - a swarthy complexion; having a dark or somber color; an unilluminated area; an unenlightened state; absence of light or illumination; absence of moral or spiritual values

dekko - British slang

dermoid cyst - a cystic tumor (usually benign) with a wall lined with epithelium and a cavity containing other material

destiny - an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future; the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events (often personified as a woman); your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

device - any clever maneuver; an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; an emblematic design (especially in heraldry); any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery); something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect

dichromacy - a deficiency of color vision in which the person can match any given hue by mixing only two other wavelengths of light (as opposed to the three wavelengths needed by people with normal color vision)

diesel - an internal-combustion engine that burns heavy oil; German engineer (born in France) who invented the diesel engine (1858-1913)

diplopia - visual impairment in which an object is seen as two objects

discovery - the act of discovering something; a productive insight; something that is discovered; (law) compulsory pretrial disclosure of documents relevant to a case; enables one side in a litigation to elicit information from the other side concerning the facts in the case

ditto - a mark used to indicate the word above it should be repeated; verb repeat an action or statement

doctor - children take the roles of physician or patient or nurse and pretend they are at the physician's office; a licensed medical practitioner; a person who holds Ph.D. degree (or the equivalent) from an academic institution; (Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy of their theological teaching; verb give medical treatment to; restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive

dolce - adv. gently and sweetly

dominick - American breed of chicken having barred grey plumage raised for meat and brown eggs

drake - adult male of a wild or domestic duck; English explorer and admiral who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and who helped to defeat the Spanish Armada (1540-1596)

editor - a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine); (computer science) a program designed to perform such editorial functions as rearrangement or modification or deletion of data

embryology - the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms

emmetropia - (ophthalmology) the normal refractive condition of the eye in which there is clear focus of light on the retina

epicanthic fold - a vertical fold of skin over the nasal canthus; normal for Mongolian peoples; sometimes occurs in Down's syndrome

epikeratophakia - using a piece of donated corneal tissue to repair the eye of someone who has had a cataract removed

epiphora - repetition of the ends of two or more successive sentences, verses, etc.

episcleritis - inflammation of the sclera of the eye

esotropia - strabismus in which one or both eyes turn inward toward the nose

evil eye - a look that is believed to have the power of inflicting harm

evisceration - altering something (as a legislative act or a statement) in such a manner as to reduce its value; surgical removal of an organ (or the contents of an organ) from a patient; the act of removing the bowels or viscera; the act of cutting so as to cause the viscera to protrude

exophthalmos - protrusion of the eyeball from the socket

exotropia - strabismus in which one or both eyes are directed outward

eye bank - a place for storing and preserving corneas that are obtained from human corpses immediately after death; used for corneal transplantation to patients with corneal defects

eye chart - a chart that is read from a fixed distance; used as a test of vision

eye contact - contact that occurs when two people look directly at each other; a meeting of the eyes between two people that expresses meaningful nonverbal communication

eye disease - any disease of the eye

eye-drop - a drop from an eye dropper

eye movement - the movement of the eyes

eyebrow - the arch of hair above each eye

eyebrow pencil - makeup provided by a cosmetic pencil that is used to darken the eyebrows

eyeglasses - optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

eyelash - any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids

eyelid - either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye

eyepatch - a protective cloth covering for an injured eye

eyewash - lotion consisting of a solution used as a cleanser for the eyes

fashion designer - someone who designs clothing

field of view - the area that is visible (as through an optical instrument)

fixation - (histology) the preservation and hardening of a tissue sample to retain as nearly as possible the same relations they had in the living body; the activity of fastening something firmly in position; an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone; an abnormal state in which development has stopped prematurely

floater - an insurance policy covering loss of movable property (e.g. jewelry) regardless of its location; an object that floats or is capable of floating; a swimmer who floats in the water; a voter who votes illegally at different polling places in the same election; an employee who is reassigned from job to job as needed; a debt instrument with a variable interest rate tied to some other interest rate (e.g. the rate paid by T-bills); a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support; spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens

folklore - the unwritten literature (stories and proverbs and riddles and songs) of a culture

fovea centralis - area consisting of a small depression in the retina containing cones and where vision is most acute

frank - clearly manifest; evident; characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion; a smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll; a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century; verb exempt by means of an official pass or letter, as from customs or other checks; stamp with a postmark to indicate date and time of mailing

freeman - a person who is not a serf or a slave

fundus - (anatomy) the base of a hollow organ or that part of the organ farthest from its opening

galen - Greek anatomist whose theories formed the basis of European medicine until the Renaissance (circa 130-200)

general - prevailing among and common to the general public; not specialized or limited to one class of things; applying to all or most members of a category or group; of national scope; affecting the entire body; somewhat indefinite; of worldwide scope or applicability; a fact about the whole (as opposed to particular); a general officer of the highest rank; the head of a religious order or congregation; verb command as a general

ghana - a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea

glasses - optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

glaucoma - increased pressure in the eyeball due to obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor; damages the optic disc and impairs vision (sometimes progressing to blindness)

globe - a sphere on which a map (especially of the earth) is represented; the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on; an object with a spherical shape

goggles - tight-fitting spectacles worn to protect the eyes

google - a widely used search engine that uses text-matching techniques to find web pages that are important and relevant to a user's search; verb search the internet (for information) using the Google search engine

gould - United States financier who gained control of the Erie Canal and who caused a financial panic in 1869 when he attempted to corner the gold market (1836-1892); United States paleontologist and popularizer of science (1941-2002)

grant - the act of providing a subsidy; a right or privilege that has been granted; 18th President of the United States; commander of the Union armies in the American Civil War (1822-1885); United States actor (born in England) who was the elegant leading man in many films (1904-1986); Scottish painter; cousin of Lytton Strachey and member of the Bloomsbury Group (1885-1978); (law) a transfer of property by deed of conveyance; any monetary aid; a contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business; verb transfer by deed; bestow, especially officially; be willing to concede; allow to have; let have; give as judged due or on the basis of merit; give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another

groom - a man who has recently been married; a man participant in his own marriage ceremony; someone employed in a stable to take care of the horses; verb care for one's external appearance; give a neat appearance to; prepare (someone) for a future role or function

guide dog - a dog trained to guide the blind

harry - verb make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes; annoy continually or chronically

hemeralopia - inability to see clearly in bright light

hemianopsia - blindness in one half of the visual field of one or both eyes

henry - United States physicist who studied electromagnetic phenomena (1791-1878); a leader of the American Revolution and a famous orator who spoke out against British rule of the American colonies (1736-1799); English chemist who studied the quantities of gas absorbed by water at different temperatures and under different pressures (1775-1836); a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

holmes - English geologist and supporter of the theory of continental drift (1890-1965); United States writer of humorous essays (1809-1894); United States jurist noted for his liberal opinions (1841-1935); a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle

horner's syndrome - a pattern of symptoms occurring as a result of damage to nerves in the cervical region of the spine (drooping eyelids and constricted pupils and absence of facial sweating)

house - play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults; a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families; a building in which something is sheltered or located; aristocratic family line; an official assembly having legislative powers; the audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema; the members of a religious community living together; the management of a gambling house or casino; a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented; the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; a social unit living together; (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided; verb provide housing for; contain or cover

howard - Queen of England as the fifth wife of Henry VIII who was accused of adultery and executed (1520-1542); English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)

hudson - a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century; English navigator who discovered the Hudson River; in 1610 he attempted to winter in Hudson Bay but his crew mutinied and set him adrift to die (1565-1611); English naturalist (born in Argentina) (1841-1922)

hyphema - bleeding into the interior chamber of the eye

iceberg - a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier; lettuce with crisp tightly packed light-green leaves in a firm head

india - a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

intraocular lens - an artificial lens that is implanted into the eye of someone to replace a damaged natural lens or someone who has had a cataract removed

inventor - someone who is the first to think of or make something

iridectomy - surgical removal of part of the iris of the eye

iris - diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening; muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil; it forms the colored portion of the eye; plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals

jackson - a town in south central Michigan; capital of the state of Mississippi on the Pearl River; a town in western Tennessee; a town in western Wyoming; 7th president of the US; successfully defended New Orleans from the British in 1815; expanded the power of the presidency (1767-1845); general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War whose troops at the first Battle of Bull Run stood like a stone wall (1824-1863); United States writer of romantic novels about the unjust treatment of Native Americans (1830-1885); United States civil rights leader who led a national campaign against racial discrimination and ran for presidential nomination (born in 1941); United States singer who did much to popularize gospel music (1911-1972); United States singer who began singing with his four brothers and later became a highly successful star during the 1980s (born in 1958); English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

john dalton - English chemist and physicist who formulated atomic theory and the law of partial pressures; gave the first description of red-green color blindness (1766-1844)

john tyler - elected vice president and became the 10th President of the United States when Harrison died (1790-1862)

jones - English phonetician (1881-1967); one of the first great English architects and a theater designer (1573-1652); American naval commander in the American Revolution (1747-1792); United States golfer (1902-1971); United States railroad engineer who died trying to stop his train from crashing into another train; a friend wrote a famous ballad describing the incident (1864-1900); United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)

journal - the part of the axle contained by a bearing; a record book as a physical object; a periodical dedicated to a particular subject; a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations; a ledger in which transactions have been recorded as they occurred

keratitis - inflammation of the cornea causing watery painful eyes and blurred vision

keratoconus - abnormal cone-shaped protrusion of the cornea of the eye; can be treated by epikeratophakia

keratomalacia - softening and drying and ulceration of the cornea resulting from vitamin A deficiency; symptom of cystic fibrosis or sprue

keratoscope - medical instrument to examine the cornea in order to detect irregularities in its anterior surface

ketorolac - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (trade name Torodal) that is given only orally

king snake - any of numerous nonvenomous North American constrictors; feed on other snakes and small mammals

lacrimal gland - any of the glands in the eyes that secrete tears

lacrimal sac - either of the two dilated ends of the lacrimal ducts at the nasal ends of the eyes that fill with tears secreted by the lacrimal glands

lagophthalmos - abnormal condition in which an eye cannot close completely

lens - a transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to form images; electronic equipment that uses a magnetic or electric field in order to focus a beam of electrons; biconvex transparent body situated behind the iris in the eye; it focuses light waves on the retina; (metaphor) a channel through which something can be seen or understood; genus of small erect or climbing herbs with pinnate leaves and small inconspicuous white flowers and small flattened pods: lentils

levi - (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel

libra - the seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22; a small faint zodiacal constellation in the southern hemisphere; between Virgo and Scorpius; (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Libra

long beach - a city in southern California located on 8.5 miles of Pacific beachfront; was a resort until oil was discovered in 1921

lorgnette - eyeglasses that are held to the eyes with a long handle

louis - United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight campion for 12 years (1914-1981)

marc - made from residue of grapes or apples after pressing

martin - any of various swallows with squarish or slightly forked tail and long pointed wings; migrate around Martinmas; United States singer (1917-1995); United States actress (1913-1990); United States actor and comedian (born in 1945); French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)

mascara - makeup that is used to darken and thicken the eye lashes

medical - requiring or amenable to treatment by medicine especially as opposed to surgery; relating to the study or practice of medicine; of or belonging to Aesculapius or the healing art; a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person

medicine - the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease; the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques; punishment for one's actions; verb treat medicinally, treat with medicine

meibomian gland - a long sebaceous gland that lubricates the eyelids

metamorphopsia - a defect of vision in which objects appear to be distorted; usually due to a defect in the retina

miller - machine tool in which metal that is secured to a carriage is fed against rotating cutters that shape it; someone who works in a mill (especially a grain mill); United States playwright (born 1915); United States novelist whose novels were originally banned as pornographic (1891-1980); United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944); any of various moths that have powdery wings

miosis - reflex contraction of the sphincter muscle of the iris in response to a bright light (or certain drugs) causing the pupil to become smaller; (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)

mitchell - United States dancer who formed the first Black classical ballet company (born in 1934); United States labor leader; president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1898 to 1908 (1870-1919); United States writer noted for her novel about the South during the American Civil War (1900-1949); United States astronomer who studied sunspots and nebulae (1818-1889); United States aviator and general who was an early advocate of military air power (1879-1936); English aeronautical engineer (1895-1937)

monochromacy - complete color blindness; colors can be differentiated only on the basis of brightness

monocle - lens for correcting defective vision in one eye; held in place by facial muscles

morgan - an American breed of small compact saddle horses; United States financier and philanthropist (1837-1913); soldier in the American Revolution who defeated the British in the battle of Cowpens, South Carolina (1736-1802); a Welsh buccaneer who raided Spanish colonies in the West Indies for the English (1635-1688); United States biologist who formulated the chromosome theory of heredity (1866-1945); United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)

murray - an southeast Australian river; flows westward and then south into the Indian Ocean at Adelaide; Scottish philologist and the lexicographer who shaped the Oxford English Dictionary (1837-1915); British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)

musician - artist who composes or conducts music as a profession; someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)

mydriasis - reflex pupillary dilation as a muscle pulls the iris outward; occurs in response to a decrease in light or certain drugs

nance - offensive terms for an openly homosexual man

naphazoline - vasoconstrictor (trade names Privine and Sudafed) used in nasal sprays to treat symptoms of nasal congestion and in eyedrops to treat eye irritation

nasolacrimal duct - a duct that carries tears from the lacrimal sac to the nasal cavity

night vision - the ability to see in reduced illumination (as in moonlight)

northwest - situated in or oriented toward the northwest; coming from the northwest; adv. to, toward, or in the northwest; the northwestern region of the United States; the compass point midway between north and west; at 315 degrees

nyctalopia - inability to see clearly in dim light; due to a deficiency of vitamin A or to a retinal disorder

nystagmus - involuntary movements of the eyeballs; its presence or absence is used to diagnose a variety of neurological and visual disorders

oakley - United States sharpshooter who was featured in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (1860-1926)

oculist - a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye; a person skilled in testing for defects of vision in order to prescribe corrective glasses

ogle - verb look at with amorous intentions

oliver goldsmith - Irish writer of novels and poetry and plays and essays (1728-1774)

ommatidium - any of the numerous small cone-shaped eyes that make up the compound eyes of some arthropods

ophthalmia - severe conjunctivitis

ophthalmologist - a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye

ophthalmology - the branch of medicine concerned with the eye and its diseases

ophthalmoscopy - examination of the interior of an eye using an ophthalmoscope

optic cup - (embryology) a two-walled cuplike depression that develops into the pigmented and sensory layers of the retina

optic disc - the point where the optic nerve enters the retina; not sensitive to light

optometrist - a person skilled in testing for defects of vision in order to prescribe corrective glasses

optometry - the practice of an optometrist

orbit - the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another; the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom; an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball; a particular environment or walk of life; verb move in an orbit

orthoptics - treatment of defects of binocular vision (such as strabismus and amblyopia) by nonsurgical measures (especially by exercises to strengthen the eye muscles)

painter - a line that is attached to the bow of a boat and used for tying up (as when docking or towing); an artist who paints; a worker who is employed to cover objects with paint; large American feline resembling a lion

papilledema - swelling of the optic disc (where the optic nerve enters the eyeball); usually associated with an increase in intraocular pressure

parafovea - area of the retina immediately surrounding the fovea

parks - United States civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery (Alabama) and so triggered the national civil rights movement (born in 1913)

pheniramine - an antihistamine used in preparations to treat allergies and respiratory infections; used to treat rhinitis and skin rashes and pruritus

photophobia - a morbid fear of light; pain in the eye resulting from exposure to bright light (often associated with albinism)

photopic vision - normal vision in daylight; vision with sufficient illumination that the cones are active and hue is perceived

physician - a licensed medical practitioner

physiology - processes and functions of an organism; the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms

pilocarpine - cholinergic alkaloid used in eyedrops to treat glaucoma

pince-nez - spectacles clipped to the nose by a spring

pinguecula - a slightly elevated elastic tissue deposit in the conjunctiva that may extend to the cornea but does not cover it

pitt - English statesman who brought the Seven Years' War to an end (1708-1778); English statesman and son of Pitt the Elder (1759-1806); a British playwright who created the fictional character Sweeney Todd (1799-1855)

police - the force of policemen and officers; verb maintain the security of by carrying out a control

politician - a person active in party politics; a leader engaged in civil administration; a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways

presbyopia - farsightedness resulting from a reduced ability to focus caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens with age

product - an artifact that has been created by someone or some process; a quantity obtained by multiplication; a consequence of someone's efforts or of a particular set of circumstances; a chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction; commodities offered for sale; the set of elements common to two or more sets

pterygium - either of two thickened triangular layers of conjunctiva extending from the nasal edge of the eye to the cornea; it arises from irritation of the pinguecula

ptosis - drooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weakness

public relations - a promotion intended to create goodwill for a person or institution

punishment - the act of punishing

pupil - contractile aperture in the iris of the eye; a young person attending school (up through senior high school); a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

pupillary reflex - reflex contraction of the sphincter muscle of the iris in response to a bright light (or certain drugs) causing the pupil to become smaller

quadrantanopia - blindness in one fourth of the visual field

radial keratotomy - radial pattern of incisions in the cornea that cause the cornea to bulge; performed to correct myopia

red-eye - verb travel on an overnight flight

retina - the light-sensitive membrane covering the back wall of the eyeball; it is continuous with the optic nerve

retinitis - inflammation of the retina

retinoblastoma - malignant ocular tumor of retinal cells; usually occurs before the third year of life; composed of primitive small round retinal cells

reynolds - English portrait painter and first president of the Royal Academy (1723-1792)

rheum - rhubarb; a watery discharge from the mucous membranes (especially from the eyes or nose)

rhodopsin - a red photopigment in the retinal rods of vertebrates; dissociates into retinene by light

rod cell - visual receptor cell sensitive to dim light

saccade - a rapid, jerky movement of the eyes between positions of rest; an abrupt spasmodic movement

schlemm's canal - a circular canal in the eye that drains aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into the anterior ciliary veins

sclera - whitish fibrous membrane (albuginea) that with the cornea forms the outer covering of the eyeball

scleritis - inflammation of the sclera

sclerotomy - surgical incision of the sclerotic coat of the eye

scotoma - an isolated area of diminished vision within the visual field

scotopic vision - the ability to see in reduced illumination (as in moonlight)

senior - used of the fourth and final year in United States high school or college; older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service; advanced in years; (`aged' is proced as two syllables); an undergraduate student during the year preceding graduation; a person who is older than you are

short story - a prose narrative shorter than a novel

shroud - a line that suspends the harness from the canopy of a parachute; burial garment in which a corpse is wrapped; (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind; verb wrap in a shroud; cover as if with a shroud; form a cover like a shroud

silhouette - a drawing of the outline of an object; filled in with some uniform color; an outline of a solid object (as cast by its shadow); verb represent by a silhouette; project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette

snellen chart - display consisting of a printed card with letters and numbers in lines of decreasing size; used to test visual acuity

spectacles - optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

squint - (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy; the act of squinting; looking with the eyes partly closed; abnormal alignment of one or both eyes; verb cross one's eyes as if in strabismus; partly close one's eyes, as when hit by direct blinding light; be cross-eyed; have a squint or strabismus

stein - experimental expatriate United States writer (1874-1946); a mug intended for serving beer

stephen foster - United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864)

strabismus - abnormal alignment of one or both eyes

stye - an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid

subluxation - partial displacement of a joint or organ

sunglasses - spectacles that are darkened or polarized to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun

sunshine - the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom; moderate weather; suitable for outdoor activities; the rays of the sun

suppression - forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority; the act of withholding or withdrawing some book or writing from publication or circulation; (botany) the failure to develop of some part or organ of a plant; (psychology) the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or desires

surgeon - a physician who specializes in surgery

surgery - a room where a doctor or dentist can be consulted; the branch of medical science that treats disease or injury by operative procedures; a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body; a room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations

synechia - adhesions between the iris and the lens or cornea resulting from trauma or eye surgery of as a complication of glaucoma or cataract; can lead to blindness

tarsus - the part of the foot of a vertebrate between the metatarsus and the leg; in human beings the bones of the ankle and heel collectively

tears - the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

technology - the practical application of science to commerce or industry; the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems

tenonitis - inflammation of a tendon

third eye - a sensory structure capable of light reception located on the dorsal side of the diencephalon in various reptiles

tiffany - United States artist who developed Tiffany glass (1848-1933)

timolol - a beta blocker (trade name Blocadren) administered after heart attacks

tiresias - (Greek mythology) the blind prophet of Thebes who revealed to Oedipus that Oedipus had murdered his father and married his mother

trachoma - a chronic contagious viral disease marked by inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye and the formation of scar tissue

tunnel vision - visual impairment involving a loss of peripheral vision

undine - any of various female water spirits

uvea - the part of the eye that contains the iris and ciliary body and choroid

uveitis - inflammation of the uvea of the eye

versace - Italian fashion designer (1946-1997)

visibly - adv. so as to be visible; in a visible manner

vision - the perceptual experience of seeing; a vivid mental image; a religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance; the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses; the ability to see; the visual faculty

visual - able to be seen; relating to or using sight

visual acuity - sharpness of vision; the visual ability to resolve fine detail (usually measured by a Snellen chart)

visual agnosia - inability to recognize or interpret objects in the visual field

visual field - all of the points of the physical environment that can be perceived by a stable eye at a given moment

visual impairment - impairment of the sense of sight

visual space - the visual perception of space

vitreous body - the clear colorless transparent jelly that fills the posterior chamber of the eyeball

wink - closing one eye quickly as a signal; a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly; a very short time (as the time it takes the eye blink or the heart to beat); verb signal by winking; force to go away by blinking; briefly shut the eyes; gleam or glow intermittently

xanthelasma - xanthoma of the eyelids; occurs chiefly in the elderly

xanthopsia - visual defect in which objects appear to have a yellowish hue; sometimes occurs in cases of jaundice

xerophthalmia - abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes; may be due to a systemic deficiency of vitamin A

Accommodation: The adjustment of the eye for seeing at different distances, by changing the shape of the lens by means of the activity of the ciliary muscles, along these lines concentrating a clear image on the retina.

Agnosia: Inability to recognize regular things despite a flawless visual device.

Albinism: A hereditary deficiency of pigment in the retinal pigment epithelium, iris, and choroid.

Amaurosis fugax: Transient loss of vision.

Amblyopia: Reduced visual keenness that can't be corrected with lenses, in the absence of detectable anatomic defect in the eye or visual pathways.

Aniridia: Absence of the iris.

Aniseikonia: When the image seen by one eye differs in size or shape from that seen by the other.

Anisometropia: Difference in refractive error of the eyes.

Anophthalmos: Absence of a true eyeball.

Anterior chamber: The space filled with aqueous bounded by the cornea anteriorly and by the iris posteriorly.

Aphakia: Absence of the lens.

Aqueous: Clear, watery liquid that fills the anterior and posterior chambers.

Asthenopia: Eye fatigue caused by tiring.

Astigmatism: Refractive error that prevents the light beams from going to a single spotlight on the retina because of different degrees of refraction in the different meridians of the cornea.

Binocular vision: Ability of the eyes to concentrate on one object and fuse the two images into one.

Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids.

Blepharoptosis: Drooping of the eyelid.

Blepharospasm: Involuntary fit of the eyelids.

Blind spot: Blank area in the visual field, which corresponds to the light beams that come to an attention on the optic nerve.

Blindness: In the US, the standard definition of legal blindness is corrected visual keenness of 20/200 or less in the better eye, or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in the better eye.

Buphthalmos: Large eyeball in infantile glaucoma.

Canal of Schlemm: A round modified venous structure in the anterior chamber angle.

Canaliculus: Small tear drainage tube in the inner aspect of upper and lower tops leading from the puncta to the normal canaliculus and then to the tear sac.

Canthus: The angle at either end of the eyelid aperture— specified as inner or outer.

Cataract: Lens obscurity.

Cataract extraction: Removal of a cataract by one of several methods.

Chalazion: Inflammation of a meibomian gland.

Chemosis: Conjunctival edema.

Choroid: Vascular middle coat between the retina and sclera.

Ciliary body: Portion of the uveal tract between the iris and the choroid including the ciliary processes and the ciliary muscle.

Coloboma: Congenital cleft due to the failure of some portion of the eye or visual adnexa to complete development.

Color blindness: Diminished capacity to perceive differences in color.

Concave lens: Lens having the power to diverge beams of light. It is otherwise called negative, nearsighted, or less lens, denoted by the sign (– ).

Cones and rods: Two sorts of retinal receptor cells. Cones are concerned with visual sharpness and color vision; rods, with peripheral vision under diminish brightening.

Conjunctiva: Mucous membrane that lines the posterior aspect of the eyelids and the anterior sclera.

Convergence: The process of directing the visual axes of the eyes to a near point.

Convex lens: Lens having power to converge beams of light and to bring them into center; otherwise called amplifying, hyperopic, or additionally lens, denoted by the sign (+).

Cornea: Transparent portion of the outer layer of the eyeball forming the anterior mass of the aqueous chamber.

Corneal contact lenses: Thin lenses that fit directly on the cornea under the eyelids.

Corneal graft (keratoplasty): Surgery to restore vision by replacing a section of opaque cornea, either including the full thickness of the cornea (penetrating keratoplasty) or just a superficial layer (lamellar keratoplasty).

Crystalline lens (or just the lens): A semi‐transparent biconvex structure suspended in the eyeball between the aqueous and the vitreous. Its capacity is to carry beams of light to an emphasis on the retina.

Cycloplegic: A medication that temporarily relaxes the ciliary muscle, deadening accommodation.

Cylindrical lens: A segment of a cylinder, the refractive power of which varies in different meridians.

Dacryocystitis: Infection of the lacrimal sac.

Dark adaptation: The eyes' capacity to adjust to decreased enlightenment.

Diopter: Unit of measurement that refers to the strength of refractive power in lenses or crystals.

Diplopia: Seeing one object as two.

E test: A system of testing visual keenness in illiterates, especially preschool children.

Drusen: Small round yellow spots in or around the macula just outside the pigment epithelium. When in the optic nerve head, drusen appear as uneven excrescences, which ought not be confused with papilledema.

Dry‐eye syndrome: Irritation secondary to decreased tearing.

Ectropion: Turning out of the eyelid.

Emmetropia: Absence of refractive error.

Endophthalmitis: Severe intraocular infection or aggravation.

Enophthalmos: Abnormal retro‐displacement of the eyeball.

Entropion: A turning internal of the eyelid.

Enucleation: Complete careful removal of the eyeball.

Episcleritis: Benign aggravation of the tissue between the conjunctiva and sclera.

Epiphora: Tearing.

Esophoria: A tendency of the eyes to turn internal.

Esotropia: A manifest internal deviation of the eyes.

Evisceration: Removal of the contents of the eyeball.

Exenteration: Removal of the entire contents of the orbit, counting the eyeball and covers.

Exophoria: A tendency of the eyes to turn outward.

Exophthalmos: Abnormal distension of the eyeball.

Exotropia: A manifest outward deviation of one or the two eyes.

Farsightedness: See Hyperopia.

Field of vision: the entire area that can be seen without moving the gaze.

Floaters: Small dark particles in the vitreous.

Focus: The point to which beams are converged after passing through a perspective. Central distance is the distance between the lens and the point of convergence.

Fornix: The intersection of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva.

Fovea: The center of the macula adapted for the most acute vision.

Fundus: The posterior portion of the eye, visible through an ophthalmoscope.

Fusion: Coordinating the images received by the two eyes into one image.

Glaucoma: Disease as a rule caused by elevated intraocular pressure, resulting in optic decay and loss of visual field.

Gonioscopy: A technique of examining the anterior angle, utilizing a special corneal contact lens.

Hemianopia: Blindness of one a large portion of the field of vision in one or the two eyes.

Hordeolum, external (sty): Infection of a hair follicle.

Hordeolum, internal: Infection of the meibomian gland.

Hyperopia, hypermetropia (farsightedness): A refractive error in which the point of convergence of light beams from a removed object is behind the retina.

Hyperphoria: A tendency of the eyes to deviate upward.

Hypertropia: A misalignment of the eyes whereby the visual hub of one eye is higher than the fellow focusing eye.

Hyphema: Blood in the anterior chamber.

Hypopyon: Pus in the anterior chamber.

Hypotony: Abnormally soft eye from any cause.

Injection: Congestion of veins.

Iris: Circular membrane (the color part, e.g., dark colored, blue, green) suspended behind the cornea and before the lens.

Jaeger test: A test for near vision utilizing lines of different sizes of type.

Keratoconus: Cone‐shaped deformity of the cornea.

Keratomalacia: Softening of the cornea, as a rule associated with nutrient A deficiency.

Keratoplasty: Cornea transplant (graft).

Lacrimal sac: The dilated area at the intersection of the nasolacrimal channel and the canaliculi.

Lesion: Injury.

Lens (Crystalline lens): A refractive medium having one or both curved surfaces.

Leukoma: Dense corneal murkiness due to any cause.

Limbus: Junction of the cornea and sclera.

Macula lutea (or just macula): (Latin: macula=spot; lutea=yellow). The round or somewhat oval avascular center of the retina used for central vision.

Metamorphopsia: Wavy distortion of vision.

Microphthalmos: Abnormal smallness of the eyeball.

Miotic: A medication causing pupillary tightening.

Mydriatic: A medication causing pupillary dilatation.

Myokymia: Twitching of eyelids, typically a benign transient condition, most likely related to fatigue or tension. It is for the most part unilateral.

Myopia (nearsightedness): A refractive error where the central point for light beams from a removed object is anterior to the retina.

Neovascularization: Formation of new veins.

Nicking: (arteriovenous or AV scratching)

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