Glossary

Scleral Lenses: Large-diameter contact lenses that rest on the sclera and create a tear-filled vault over the cornea. Scleral lenses are designed to treat a variety of eye conditions, many of which do not respond to other forms of treatment.

LASIK Complications: Potential side effects or issues that can occur after LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis), a type of refractive eye surgery. These can include dry eyes, halos, glare, and even vision loss.

Keratoconus: A progressive eye disease in which the normally round cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape, causing distorted vision.

Corneal Trauma: Damage to the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, from injuries or burns.

Non-Surgical Vision Improvement: Techniques and treatments used to improve vision without surgery, such as corrective eyewear or specialized contact lenses.

Pediatric Vision: The field of eye care dealing with children’s vision, including vision development, eye health, and vision-related learning issues in children.

Vision Rehabilitation: The process of helping individuals who have suffered vision loss to improve their functioning in daily life activities, achieve their goals, and stay independent.

Corneal Disease: A variety of conditions, disorders, and diseases that affect the cornea, potentially altering its clarity and health.

Corneal Dystrophy and Degeneration: A group of rare hereditary disorders characterized by bilateral abnormal deposition of substances in the transparent front part of the eye or the cornea.

Corneal Ectasia: A condition where the cornea becomes weak and thin, leading to a bulging outward and a distorted shape.

Dry Eye Syndrome: A common condition that occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Symptoms can include stinging, burning, redness, and fluctuating vision.

Glaucoma: A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to abnormally high pressure in your eye, and can result in vision loss or blindness.

Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness, a common vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry.

Post-Surgical Vision Loss: Vision loss that occurs after surgery. This can be due to a variety of factors, including complications from the surgery itself, infection, or a reaction to medication.

Radial Keratotomy Complications: Potential side effects or issues that can occur after radial keratotomy, a type of refractive surgical procedure to correct myopia.

Color Blindness: A reduced ability to distinguish between certain colors. The condition often occurs from birth and more commonly affects males.

Astigmatism: A common vision condition that causes blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens in the eye.

Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, a vision condition in which distant objects can be seen clearly, but close ones do not come into proper focus.

Presbyopia: A common type of vision disorder that occurs as you age, in which the ability to focus up close becomes more difficult.

Cataract: A clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye, causing vision loss that can’t be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Macular Degeneration: A medical condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field due to damage to the macula, the small central area of the retina that controls visual acuity.

Diabetic Retinopathy: A diabetes complication that affects eyes and can cause blindness. It’s caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).

Retinal Detachment: A serious eye condition that occurs when the retina pulls away from its supportive tissue. If not promptly treated, it can cause permanent vision loss.

Uveitis: Inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, which can lead to serious eye problems, including blindness.

Amblyopia: Also known as lazy eye, a vision development disorder in which an eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity, even with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Strabismus: A condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object, often referred to as “crossed eyes”.

Blepharitis: An inflammation of the eyelids, usually where the eyelashes grow, causing red, irritated, itchy eyelids and the formation of dandruff-like scales on eyelashes.

Conjunctivitis: Also known as “pink eye”, it’s an inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid.

Corneal Ulcer: An open sore on the cornea, the clear structure in the front of the eye, often caused by infection.

Retinitis Pigmentosa: A group of rare, genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina, leading to progressive vision loss.

Optic Neuritis: An inflammation that damages the optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that transmits visual information from your eye to your brain, often causing temporary vision loss.

Stye: A red, painful lump near the edge of the eyelid that may look like a boil or a pimple, often caused by a bacterial infection.

Chalazion: A small, usually painless, lump or swelling that appears on your eyelid due to a blocked oil gland.

Ocular Migraine: A term that has been used to describe a variety of migraine subtypes that are characterized by a variety of visual disturbances including visual loss, blind spots, zig-zag lines, or seeing stars.

Floaters: Small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision as you look at a blank wall or a clear blue sky, typically caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes becomes more liquid.

Photophobia: Extreme sensitivity to light, causing discomfort or pain in the eyes.

Diplopia: Also known as double vision, it’s the perception of two images of a single object seen adjacent to each other or overlapping.

Nystagmus: Involuntary eye movement, acquired in infancy or later in life, that may result in reduced or limited vision.

Keratitis: Inflammation of the cornea. There are many causes of keratitis, including infection, dry eyes, injury, and a large group of diseases known collectively as corneal dystrophies.

Iritis: Inflammation of the iris, the colored part of your eye. It can cause eye pain, eye redness, and, if untreated, permanent vision loss.

Episcleritis: Inflammation of the episclera, a thin layer of tissue covering the white part of your eye (sclera). It causes redness and pain in the eye.

Scleritis: A serious inflammatory disease that affects the white outer coating of the eye, known as the sclera. The disease is often linked to autoimmune disorders, and it can cause redness, pain, and possibly severe vision loss.

Pterygium: A growth of the conjunctiva or mucous membrane that covers the white part of your eye over the cornea. It’s often related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light.

Pinguecula: A yellowish, slightly raised lesion that forms on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye, usually caused by sun exposure.

Retinoblastoma: A rare form of eye cancer that beginsin the retina and typically affects young children, but can occasionally occur in adults.

Ocular Melanoma: A type of cancer that develops in the cells in or around the eye, it’s the most common type of eye cancer in adults.

Ocular Hypertension: A condition characterized by pressure inside the eye – intraocular pressure (IOP) – that is higher than normal, which can potentially damage the optic nerve.

Low Vision: A significant visual impairment that can’t be corrected fully with glasses, contact lenses, medication or eye surgery.

Visual Field Loss: Loss of part of the usual field of vision, so it may be difficult to see objects to your side or to see objects at your feet when you are walking.

Ocular Prosthesis: Also known as an artificial eye, it’s a type of cosmetic, non-sighted eye designed to improve the appearance of people who have lost an eye due to injury or disease.

Ophthalmoscopy: An exam your eye doctor uses to check the back of your eye, including your retina, optic disk, choroid and blood vessels.

Slit-Lamp Examination: A test that uses a high-intensity light source to illuminate the front of your eye. The exam checks for any diseases or abnormalities in the anterior portion of the eye.

Tonometry: An eye test that measures the pressure inside your eye, which is called intraocular pressure (IOP), to detect glaucoma.

Fluorescein Angiography: A medical procedure in which a fluorescent dye is injected into the bloodstream to highlight the blood vessels in the back of the eye so they can be photographed.

Visual Acuity Test: A routine part of an eye examination, particularly in cases of vision loss, to measure the eye’s ability to see details at near and far distances.

Corneal Topography: A non-invasive medical imaging technique for mapping the surface curvature of the cornea, the outer structure of the eye.

Pachymetry: A simple, painless test to measure the thickness of your cornea — the clear window at the front of the eye.

Gonioscopy: A diagnostic exam to look at the front part of your eye (anterior chamber) between the cornea and the iris to check for damage to the trabecular meshwork, which could lead to glaucoma.

Retinoscopy: An exam that your eye doctor uses to check your refraction, or how light waves are bent when they enter your eye, to determine your eyeglass prescription.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye.

Pupil Dilation: The process of enlarging the pupil with special eye drops, allowing your doctor to examine the inside of the eye more thoroughly.

Amsler Grid Test: A test to assess whether or not your central visual field has been affected, particularly in cases of macular degeneration.

Color Vision Testing: A test to determine your ability to distinguish among different colors.

Visual Field Test: A measure of peripheral vision and function, which can be affected in certain eye conditions like glaucoma.

Ophthalmic Ultrasound (Ultrasound Biomicroscopy): A test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the eye.

Prescription Eyewear: Glasses or contact lenses that are prescribed by eye care professionals to correct or improve vision.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): A procedure that uses specially designed contact lenses to temporarily reshape the contour of the cornea to reduce myopia (nearsightedness).

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK): A type of refractive surgery to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The procedure involves reshaping the cornea using a laser.

Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy (LASEK): A laser eye surgery procedure intended to correct a person’s vision, reducing dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

Epithelial Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (epi-LASIK): A refractive surgery procedure that combines elements of LASIK and LASEK, designed to correct vision and reduce dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

Intraocular Lens (IOL): An artificial lens implanted in the eye as part of a treatment for cataracts or myopia.

Phacoemulsification: A modern cataract surgery in which the eye’s internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece and aspirated from the eye.

Vitrectomy: A surgical procedure undertaken by a specialist where the vitreous humor gel that fills the eye cavity is removed to provide better access to the retina.

Scleral Buckling: A surgical procedure to repair a retinal detachment in which a piece of silicone plastic or sponge is sewn onto the sclera at the site of a retinal tear to push the sclera toward the retinal tear.

Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL): A treatment for keratoconus which involves using ultraviolet (UV) light and a photosensitizer to strengthen chemical bonds in the cornea.

Intracorneal Ring Segments (ICRS): Small devices implanted into the cornea to flatten the cornea and change the way light rays are bent as they enter the eye.

Punctal Plugs: Small medical devices that are inserted into the tear ducts to block drainage. They increase the eye’s tear film and surface moisture to help relieve certain forms of dry eye.

Blepharoplasty: A type of surgery that repairs droopy eyelids and may involve removing excess skin, muscle and fat.

Ptosis Repair: A procedure to lift the upper eyelids to a normal position in cases of ptosis, or drooping of the upper eyelids.

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR): A surgical procedure to restore the flow of tears into the nose from the lacrimal sac when the nasolacrimal duct does not function.

Trabeculectomy: A surgical procedure to remove part of the trabeculum in the eye to relieve pressure caused by glaucoma.

Canaloplasty: A non-penetrating procedure designed to enhance drainage through the eye’s natural drainage system to provide sustained reduction of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Iridotomy: A surgical treatment for closed-angle glaucoma where a hole is made in the iris to allow fluid to flow freely and reduce intraocular pressure.

Refractive Surgery: A type of laser eye surgery used to correct refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

Low Vision Aids: Devices designed to help people with poor vision read and see. Examples include magnifying glasses, reading prisms, and video magnifiers.

Ocular Prosthesis (Artificial Eye): A type of cosmetic, non-sighted eye designed to improve the appearance of people who have lost an eye due to injury or disease.

Ocular Hypertension: A condition characterized by pressure inside the eye – intraocular pressure (IOP) – that is higher than normal, which can potentially damage the optic nerve.

Ocular Albinism: A genetic disorder characterized by a lack of pigment in the coloring of the eye, which can cause vision problems.

Ocular Rosacea: A condition that causes inflammation of the eye area, resulting in redness, burning, itching, and other symptoms.

Ocular Herpes: A viral infection of the eye that can result in inflammation and scarring of the cornea.

Ocular Migraine: A term that has been used to describe a variety of migraine subtypes that are characterized by a variety of visual disturbances including visual loss, blind spots, zig-zag lines, or seeing stars.

Ocular Oncology: A specialized field of medicine related to the diagnosis and treatment of tumors relating to the eye.

Ocular Pathology: The study and diagnosis of diseases of the eye and orbit via microscopic evaluation.

Ocular Pharmacology: The study and application of drugs to both diagnose and treat diseases of the eye.

Ocular Physiology: The study of the functions of the eye and how it works.

Ocular Surface Disorder (OSD): A condition that includes all diseases and disorders that affect the surface of the cornea.

Ocular Therapeutics: The application of drugs, surgery, and other forms of treatment to manage eye diseases and conditions.

Ocular Trauma: Any injury to the eye. It can be caused by blunt force, a sharp object, or a burn.

Ocular Ultrasound: A test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the eye.

Oculoplastic Surgery: A type of surgery that deals with the reconstruction of the eye and associated structures.

Ophthalmic Genetics: A specialized field of medicine related to the diagnosis and management of hereditary eye disorders.

Ophthalmic Imaging: The use of photography and imaging technology to diagnose and monitor eye diseases.

Ophthalmic Oncology: A specialized field of medicine related to the diagnosis and treatment of eye cancers.

Ophthalmic Pathology: The study and diagnosis of diseases of the eye and its adnexa through the examination of samples in a laboratory.

Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery: A type of plastic surgery that deals with the reconstruction of the eye and associated structures.

Ophthalmic Ultrasound: A diagnostic test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the eye.

Ophthalmoscopy: An examination that looks at the back of your eye, including your retina, optic disk, and the underlying layer of blood vessels.

Optic Atrophy: Damage to the optic nerve resulting in a degeneration or destruction of the optic nerve.

Optic Disk Drusen: Deposits in the optic nerve that can cause vision problems.

Optic Neuritis: Inflammation that damages the optic nerve, often linked to multiple sclerosis.

Optic Neuropathy: Damage to the optic nerve from any cause.

Orbital Cellulitis: A serious infection of the soft tissue of the eyelids and tissues surrounding the eye, including the cheek, eyebrow, and forehead.

Orbital Fracture: A break in one of the bones surrounding the eyeball.

Orbital Tumors: Any tumor or inflammation in the orbit, which can cause bulging of the eye, vision loss, double vision, and other symptoms.

Orthoptic Treatment: Eye exercises prescribed to correct problems with coordination, depth perception, and the ability to focus both eyes simultaneously.

Papilledema: Swelling of the optic nerve as it enters the back of the eye due to increased intracranial pressure.

Pediatric Ophthalmology: A field of medicine that deals with eye diseases, visual development, and vision care in children.

Presbyopia: A gradual, age-related loss of the eyes’ ability to focus actively on nearby objects.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): A complication of diabetes caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.

Pseudotumor Cerebri: A condition that mimics the symptoms but not the consequences of a large brain tumor.

Digital Retinal Imaging: A technology that allows eye doctors to capture detailed images of the retina, enabling early detection and treatment of conditions like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

Cirrus Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT): A device that provides high-resolution images of the retina, optic disc, and anterior segment, enabling the detection of subtle changes and abnormalities that could indicate the early stages of ocular diseases.

Computerized Corneal Topography: A technology that creates a 3D map of the cornea’s surface, helping diagnose and treat conditions such as keratoconus and astigmatism. It’s also invaluable in planning refractive surgery and fitting contact lenses.

Paragon CRT® (Corneal Refractive Therapy): A non-surgical solution to correct myopia (nearsightedness) through the use of therapeutic lenses that reshape the cornea while you sleep.

EyePrint Pro System: A system that captures the precise topography of the cornea and the scleral surface, creating a personalized lens that fits perfectly and comfortably. This technology is particularly beneficial for patients with irregular corneal conditions.

MiSight 1 Day Lenses: The first FDA-approved daily contact lenses developed by CooperVision, proven to slow the progression of myopia in children.

Endothelial Cell Count: A non-invasive imaging technique that allows the assessment of the cornea’s innermost layer, the endothelium. It’s crucial in diagnosing corneal diseases, monitoring corneal health in contact lens wearers, and evaluating suitability for refractive surgery.

Synergeyes Lenses: Hybrid lenses that combine the visual clarity of rigid gas permeable lenses and the comfort of soft lenses.

Visante OCT: A device that offers detailed imaging of the anterior segment of the eye, providing critical data for diagnosing and managing glaucoma, corneal diseases, and post-surgical cases.

Visual Field Analysis: A critical tool for detecting blind spots that could signify ocular conditions like glaucoma, stroke, brain tumors, or other neurological deficits.