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A Brief Glossary of Eye Conditions and Related Vocabulary


  1. A-scan – An ultrasound test that measures the interior structures of the eye. Most often used to measure the axial length of the eye prior to cataract surgery.
  2. Abrasion – A scratch on the corneal surface.
  3. Amblyopia – Decreased, poor, or indistinct vision in one or both eyes caused by a disruption of normal visual development during the first 7 to 9 years of life. Sometimes called ‘Lazy Eye’ which is actually a misnomer because amblyopia is a developmental problem in the brain, not an organic problem in the eye.
  4. Amsler Grid – A hand-held grid used to evaluate the central 10 to 15 degrees of a person’s vision, one eye at a time.
  5. Anisocoria – pupils are of unequal size.
  6. Astigmatism – An irregular curvature of the surface of the cornea.
  7. Bifocal lens – Provides correction for two distances, usually near and far.
  8. Blepharitis – Inflammation of the eyelid margins.
  9. Capsulotomy – An incision into the capsule of the crystalline lens of the eye as during cataract surgery.
  10. Cataracts – A progressive clouding of the eye’s natural crystalline lens.
  11. Chalazion – Inflamed oil gland in the eyelids that forms a bump.
  12. Color Vision Tests – Tests used to identify color vision defects.
  13. Conjunctiva – The outer, clear tissue covering the white part of the eyeball.
  14. Conjunctivitis – Inflammation of conjunctiva sometimes referred to as pink eye.
  15. Color blindness – A retinal condition that prevents a person from seeing particular colors or seeing all colors.
  16. Dacryocystitis – Inflammation of the tear drainage system.
  17. Diabetes – With diabetes, your body does not use and store sugar properly. Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina and cause loss of vision.
  18. Diplopia – An eye condition in which a single object appears as two objects.
  19. Dry Eye Syndrome – Inadequate lubrication of the eye.
  20. Drusen – Deposits under the retina associated with macular degeneration.
  21. Edema – A swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the eye.
  22. Farsightedness (Hyperopia) – This condition means that a person can clearly see objects that are far away but objects are near or close-up are unclear.
  23. Floater – Tiny clumps of gel or cells in the vitreous (the clear gel-like fluid inside the eye) that drift into one’s field of vision. Floaters appear as little dots, circles, lines, clouds and cobwebs. Although not usually serious, a medical eye exam is recommended when floaters occur to make sure there is no damage to the retina.
  24. Fundus Photos – Photographs of the optic nerve, macula, and periphery using a Fundus camera at a particular point in time. Provides a photo record for comparison over time and is helpful in diagnosing glaucoma, nevi, diabetes, hypertension.
  25. Glaucoma – A disease of the optic nerve caused by improper drainage of the eye’s fluids. Leading cause of blindness in the United States.
  26. Graves Disease – Is the most common form of hyperthyroidism that can affect the tissue behind your eyes as well as parts of your skin.
  27. Hyperopia (Farsightedness) – This condition means that a person can clearly see objects that are far away but objects are near or close-up are unclear.
  28. Hypertension – A medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. Also referred to as high blood pressure.
  29. Hypothyroidism – A condition where one’s body has too little of the thyroid hormone that is responsible for proper metabolism.
  30. Iridotomy, Laser – A procedure used for closed-angle glaucoma. A focused beam of light creates an incision on the outer edge of the iris. The incision facilitates the flow of fluids between the back and front part of the eye and can reduce elevated eye pressure.
  31. Keratitis – An inflammation of the cornea.
  32. Keratoconus – A condition in which the cornea becomes increasingly thin and cone-shaped causing distorted vision.
  33. Keratotomy – A refractive surgical procedure in which a series of incisions are made in the cornea to flatten it and correct myopia.
  34. LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) – Lasik is a surgical procedures that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, to correct the refractive errors of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
  35. Lazy Eye - See Amblyopia
  36. Leukemia – A cancer of the blood or bone marrow that is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells.
  37. Lutein – A natural antioxidant that may help your eyes stay healthy while maintaining the health of your skin. Lutein is found naturally in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and egg yolks. Other lutein sources include vitamins.
  38. Macula – The area in the center of the retina responsible for fine, central vision.
  39. Macular Degeneration – A progressive deterioration of the macula causing an incurable loss of central vision.
  40. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – A specialized x-ray technique used to visualize the internal structure and function of the body and detect structural abnormalities. MRI provides much greater contrast between the different soft tissues of the body than a CT (computed tomography) making it especially useful in neurological (brain), musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and oncological (cancer) imaging.
  41. Multiple Sclerosis - Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
  42. Multifocal lenses – The same lens provides correction for a full range of distances, near, far, and intermediate. This lens could be progressive lenses, with no visible lines on the lenses, or trifocals with visible lines.
  43. Myopia (Nearsightedness) – This condition means that a person can clearly see objects that are near but far away objects are unclear.
  44. Narrow Angles – Inadequate space at the angle where the cornea meets the iris preventing the normal outflow of eye fluid. Potential cause for increased intraocular pressure.
  45. Nearsightedness (Myopia) – This condition means that a person can clearly see objects that are near but far away objects are unclear.
  46. Nevus – A mole or pigmented lesion on the skin or in the eye.
  47. OCT (Optical coherence tomography) – An evaluation of the ocular tissues using reflected light producing cross-sectional views of the layers. Depicts the thickness of cell layers making it especially useful to examine the optic nerve, macula, and retinal nerve fiber.
  48. Ophthalmologist – A medical doctor trained to perform eye surgery who examines and treats eye conditions.
  49. Optic Neuritis – An inflammation of the optic nerve. Symptoms may include pain with eye movement, intermittent blurry vision, and blind spots.
  50. Optometrist – Eye care professionals who examine the eyes, prescribe eyeglasses and contacts, and medically treat certain eye conditions.
  51. Pachymetry – Measurement of the thickness of the cornea.
  52. Papilledema – A swelling of the optic nerve head caused by increased pressure inside the brain.
  53. Pinguecula – A benign, yellowish, fatty deposit on the eye at the point where the white part of the eye and the cornea begins, usually at the 3 or 9 o’clock position.
  54. Pink Eye – See Conjunctivitis
  55. Posterior Capsular Opacity – A film that occurs behind a lens implant and often referred to as ‘after cataract.’
  56. Presbyopia – A condition that occurs with age where the crystalline lens of the eye becomes less able to focus for near vision.
  57. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) – PRK is a surgical procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, to correct the refractive errors of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
  58. Pseudophakia – Eyes in which the natural crystalline lens has been removed as with cataract surgery.
  59. Ptosis – A drooping upper eyelid.
  60. PVD or Posterios Vitreous Detachment – A separation of the vitreous gel from the inner surface of the retina often causing floaters and flashes in one’s field of vision. Usually a benign condition.
  61. Refractive Error - An error in the way that light is focused by the eye and a frequent reason for reduced visual acuity.
  62. Retinal Detachment – A condition in which the retina separates and pulls away from the inner wall of the eyeball resulting in blind spots and/or a curtain coming over one’s vision, flashes of light, and floaters.
  63. Scleritis – inflammation of the sclera - the white part of the eye.
  64. Shingles (Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus) – Blisters on the eyelids and/or cornea; inflammation of the conjunctiva, sclera, uvea, optic nerve; lid paralysis; nerve palsies; corneal swelling; glaucoma due to inflammation.
  65. Single vision lens – Lens that provide correction for one distance only.
  66. Slit Lamp – A microscope used to evaluate and examine the front part of the eye.
  67. Strabismus – Misalignment of one or both eyes.
  68. Stye – A nodule of inflammation and infection that forms a bump under the eyelid.
  69. Subconjunctival hemorrhage – A blood-red area caused by bleeding beneath the surface. Painless and benign. Equivalent to a bruise on the body.
  70. Tonometry – Measurement of IOP or intraocular eye pressure.
  71. Trabeculectomy – A surgical procedure to relieve the dangerously high pressure in an eye with glaucoma by creating a new drain in the eye, a bypass for the blocked natural drain.
  72. Trichiasis – Lashes that grow toward and touch the eye surface.
  73. Trifocals – See Multifocal Lenses
  74. Visual Acuity – A measurement of a patient’s ability to see.
  75. Visual Field Testing – An evaluation of a patient’s peripheral or side vision.
  76. Vitreous Detachment – See PVD
 
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