Glossary

A pupil condition in which the pupil is initially enlarged and the eye has difficulty focusing on close objects, such as a book. The pupil eventually becomes small and non-reactive.

Sometimes referred to as “lazy eye”, this term refers to poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during childhood.

An eye condition in which the pupils in the right eye and the left eye are not the same size. A small difference in pupil size is normal however, more than a small difference, or other finding such as ptosis, may indicate a neurologic problem.

This eye condition occurs when one eye has significantly different refractive error than the other, and the more disadvantaged eye (e.g. the more far-sighted one) may not develop normal vision.

This is the most common cause of sudden decreased vision in patients older than 50 years. It involves a sudden blurriness, dimness or darkness, often above or below where a person is looking. Usually there is no discomfort, redness or tearing.

An in-office treatment for corneal erosion in which the physician makes small punctures into the area in order to create a scar to hold new cells in place.

A condition in which the lens of the eye is absent, usually due to surgical removal in the treatment of cataracts.

Eyedrops, available without prescription, used to lubricate the eye and help maintain moisture.

A surgical procedure used to treat astigmatism.

A common corneal irregularity in which the cornea has an uneven curvature, with both steeper and flatter curves, which causes distorted near and far vision.

A common type of eyelid skin cancer that has various appearances but typically grows at a relatively slow rate.

A condition in which uncontrolled blinking, squeezing and eyelid closure occur in both eyes without stimulation or other apparent cause.

A procedure in which a lesion is removed and sent to a pathologist, a physician trained at evaluating microscopic tissue for signs of disease.

This is a condition that describes the involuntary clenching of eyelid muscles.

A surgical procedure that removes excess skin. This can be either a medical or cosmetic procedure.

A medicine which relaxes and weakens facial muscles in order to prevent spasms.

Cloudiness or opacity in the eye’s natural lens.

(See Macular Pucker)

Inflammation of the choroids.

Commonly called “pink eye”, this is an inflammation of the clear skin that covers the white part of the eye and the inside surface of the eyelids. This is most commonly caused by infection (either viral or bacterial) or allergy.

The most common dystrophy of the cornea in which the surface of the cornea has numerous fingerprint lines, dots, or whitish cysts which give blurred or ghost-like vision.

An inherited condition which usually develops in both eyes and affects the surface of the cornea, the middle layers or the deepest parts. There are many types of dystrophies. They usually are slowly progressive and may or may not decrease vision.

Infections of the cornea caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.

Computerized Tomography (CT) combines a series of x-ray views taken from many different angles to produce cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside the body.

Cataract surgery during which additional procedures, such as implanting an accommodating or toric intraocular lens to produce clearer vision after cataract surgery, reduces the dependence on glasses or bifocals.

Laser vision correction using the WaveScan system which allows surgeons to measure and correct visual imperfections that were previously undetectable with the common technology used to prescribe glasses and contact lenses.

A surgical procedure that creates a bypass away from a blocked tear duct.

The medical term for excess skin of the eyelids.

A part of the eye examination in which eye drops are used to make the pupil larger in order to allow the doctor to examine the optic nerve and back part of the eye. This is painless and results in blurry vision for several hours following the examination.

This common condition is characterized by low tear production or poor tear quality due to improper balance of the three layers of tear film: mucus, aqueous and lipids.

In this condition the lower eyelid pulls away from the eye resulting in tearing and eye irritation.

Contact lenses which have a mild tint throughout the lens and are designed to enhance the color of the eye.

This a common condition, particularly in the mature population, in which the lower eyelid rotates inward toward the eye due to weakening of lower eyelid muscles.

This is an eyelid condition that describes the inward direction of skin and eyelashes that is commonly found in young individuals of Hispanic and Asian descent.

(See Macular Pucker)

Loose cells are removed from a recurrent corneal erosion and a bandage soft lens is applied until the cells are healed.

The clear, outer membrane layer of the cornea and conjunctiva.

See PTK (Excimer Laser Phototherapeutic Keratectomy)

Any eye condition that is perceived by the patient as needing immediate attention, This includes sudden loss or distortion of vision, ocular trauma (such as blunt force trauma, puncture, chemical splash into eye, foreign bodies in the eye) double vision or sudden pounding headache.

Flashing lights,or lightening streaks in the field of vision caused when the vitreous gel inside the eye rubs or pulls on the retina.

Tiny clumps of vitreous gel or cells inside the eye that appear as small specks or clouds moving in the field of vision. This often occurs when looking at a plain background such as a blank wall or blue sky.

A corneal dystrophy most common in females after 50 years of age.

Contact lenses made of plastics which “breath” oxygen to the eye, providing better safety and comfort.

A progressive condition in which the major nerve of the eye, the optic nerve, is damaged due to increased internal eye pressure.

This small device enhances standard glaucoma surgery by increasing outflow of fluid and decreasing intraocular pressure. The implant is designed to allow aqueous fluid to flow out of the eye by way of the implant.

A part of the eye examination in which the doctor inspects the eye’s drainage angle.

This inherited dystrophy causes “granular” looking spots in the cornea which decrease vision.

A condition resulting from excessive function of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

This is a chronic condition in which patients experience involuntary spasms on one side of the face. The affected side of the face seems to “scrunch up” while the other side remains normal.

An eye condition in which the nerve which normally makes the pupil larger is not working properly so that the pupil on that side is abnormally small and the upper eyelid droops.

A specialized type of contact lens that is a combination of soft and gas permeable materials. This type of contact lens is reserved for specific eye conditions such as keratoconus, irregular astigmatism, various eye diseases, eye trauma and post surgery.

A vision condition, commonly called farsightedness, in which people have difficulty seeing objects that are close to them.

A clear man-made lens that replaces the eye’s natural lens to produce clearer vision after cataract surgery.

An abbreviation for Intraocular Lens, a clear man-made lens that replaces the eye’s natural lens to produce clearer vision.

The colored part of the eye which is situated between the cornea and the lens and perforated by the pupil.

A childhood disease that causes inflamed, swollen joints and possibly inflammatory eye disease.

A progressive eye disease in which the clear, dome-shaped surface of the eye (the cornea) thins, gradually producing a cone-shaped bulge in the front of the eye, causing blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light and glare.

A surgical procedure, similar to LASIK, in which there is no cutting. Instead, a solution is applied to the exterior of the eye which allows the doctor to move the epithelium (outer layer) of the eye, perform the laser correction, and slide the epithelium back into place.

A brief outpatient surgical procedure which uses the science of the laser and the skills of the surgeon to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

In this inherited condition, glass-like branching lines accumulate to decrease vision.

See ptosis.

A bump, often on the eyelid, that demonstrates growth, bleeding or crusting.

A surgical procedure to treat astigmatism.

A surgical procedure in which excess skin and puffiness of the lower eyelids are eliminated.

The center portion of the retina which enables a person to see straight ahead.

This is the least common of the middle layer dystrophies and causes large white spots that can grow together causing the whole cornea to become hazier.

Swelling in the macula that reduces central vision.

A discontinuity or break in the center portion of the retina, called the macula.

A layer of scar tissue that develops on the macula and distorts the surface, producing blurry or wavy central vision.

An eye condition in which the affected eye may not be able to move at all in one or more directions. If the eyes aren’t moving together, the patient experiences blurred or double vision.

Classic migraine attacks start with visual symptoms, such as zigzag colored lights or flashes of light expanding to one side over 10-30 minutes, followed by a pounding severe headache sometimes associated with nausea, vomiting and light-sensitivity.

A contact lens option that provides both near and distance vision. The patient wears a lens in one eye to correct for distance vision and another lens in the other eye to correct for near vision.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technology used to visualize detailed internal structures and limited function of the body. MRI provides greater contrast between the different soft tissues of the body, making it especially useful in neurological imaging.

A vision condition, commonly called nearsightedness, in which objects in the distance are blurry and objects nearby are seen clearly.

This duct drains tears from the surface of the eye down into the nose.

A part of the eye examination in which the thickness of the optic nerve fibers is evaluated.

The subspecialty of ophthalmology which focuses on disorders involving the eye and the brain. Visual problems in this area do not come from the eyes themselves but from disorders involving the nervous system.

This term refers to eyelid tumors, such as melanoma, sebaceous cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which occur less frequently than basal cell carcinoma, but have a greater ability to metastasize and spread. Due to the aggressiveness of these tumors, it is important to seek medical attention for eyelid “bumps” or lesions.

This refers to any physical barrier (cataract, droopy eyelid or corneal clouding) that does not permit light to be focused within the eye in a normal fashion, leading to amblyopia.

These lenses change the color of the eye completely and have a clear center so the patient can see through the lens.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (M.D.) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) who have completed four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of internship, three or four years of an ophthalmology residency and perhaps have further training in a subspecialty fellowship.

A part of the eye examination in which the doctor inspects the retina and optic nerve.

The major nerve of the eye which is responsible for taking light from the retina and sending impulses to the brain which are perceived as vision. Damage to the optic nerve dramatically diminishes eyesight.

The most common cause of sudden visual loss in patients between the ages of 15 and 45 accompanied by discomfort in or around the eye, particularly with eye movement.

These health care providers fill prescriptions ordered by ophthalmologists or optometrists by fitting and dispensing lenses for the correction of vision.

Doctors of optometry (O.D.) have completed four years of college and four years of post-graduate study at a college of optometry. They are licensed to practice optometry and not medicine.

Bony cavity surrounding the eye.

A highly specialized practice of ophthalmology and plastic surgery that manages and treats deformities and abnormalities of the eyelids, lacrimal (tear) system, the orbit (bony cavity surrounding the eye) and the adjacent facial structures.

This is a program of eye exercises designed to help people with eye-focusing problems such as a strabismus.

A part of the eye examination in which the corneal thickness is measured.

Very rare condition in which a child has a cataract, causing more serious problems than in adults.

A condition in which the eye pressure is too high and structures inside the eye, such as the optic nerve, can be permanently damaged.

An ophthalmologist who provides medical and surgical eye care for children under the age of 18.

Medical and surgical eye care for children under the age of 18.

A rare design that is a combination of a soft contact lens with a gas permeable lens resting on the top. This is reserved for complex eye conditions that prevent the wearing of normal contact lenses.

A benign whitish or yellowish spot or bump on the conjunctiva in the inner or outer corners of the eye which can become larger over time.

See conjunctivitis.

A treatment for retinal detachment which uses a gas bubble to push the retina onto the back of the eye.

(See Macular Pucker)

An age-related condition in which the lens of the eye, because it is loosing its flexibility, has difficulty changing focus to see objects that are near.

An artificial eye worn by someone who has lost an eye from injury or other cause.

High pressure inside the head causes problems with vision loss and steady or pounding headache, frequently at the back of the neck. The pain may worsen with bending or stooping; patients also may be aware of a rushing noise in their ears.

A wing-shaped fibrovascular growth that can extend onto the cornea from the inner or outer corner of the eye.

A laser is used to polish the surface of the cornea with the expectation that stronger cells, with stronger adhesion to the eye, are made.

This refers to the drooping of the upper eyelid(s), a common condition that may cause a reduction in the field of vision.

A treatment option to conserve a patient’s own tears, this tiny plug helps eyes keep tears longer by blocking the eye’s natural drainage system into the nose.

A part of the eye examination in which pupil size is measured under a variety of different lighting.

A condition seen in eyes that have suffered a sharp abrading injury (paper cuts, tree branch injuries, fingernails) or in patients with pre-existing corneal basement membrane dystrophy.

A part of the eye examination which checks whether vision can be improved with a new pair of glasses.

This is an injectable dermal filler, made of hyaluronic acid, which restores skin volume in order to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.

The light sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye which converts light rays into electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain where they are interpreted as images.

This is a separation of the retina, the light sensitive layer in the back of the eye, from the eye wall. A retinal detachment is an eye emergency and can lead to blindness if not corrected.

A treatment for retinal detachment which involves wrapping a plastic band around the eye to indent the eye wall to reattach the retina.

These contact lenses are large diameter gas permeable lenses that rest on the white sclera of the eye and vault the cornea.

A surgical procedure in which a tiny drainage hole is made in the sclera (white part of the eye) in order to lower eye pressure.

Corticosteroids mimic the effects of hormones the body produces naturally. When prescribed in doses exceeding the body’s usual levels, steroids suppress inflammation as well as the body’s immune system, helping to control conditions in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues.

This refers to misalignment of the eyes. Normally the two eyes are pointed in the same direction. In strabismus, one eye looks straight ahead while the other may point inward, outward, up or down.

In this autoimmune condition a body’s immune system stimulates enlargement of the muscles that move the eyes. This results in bulging of the eyes, retraction of the eyelids, double vision, decreased vision and eye irritation.

A part of the eye examination in which the doctor measures eye pressure.

Contact lenses that correct for moderate to severe astigmatism.

An intraocular lens used for the reduction of astigmatism, often implanted during cataract surgery.

A surgical procedure in which eye pressure is lowered by creating a tiny drainage hole in the sclera (white part of the eye) with a small surgical tool.

This surgical procedure eliminates excess skin and puffiness of the upper eyelids.

The inflammation of the uveal tract, the middle vascular layers of the eye which are critical to its normal function.

A part of the eye examination in which the side, or peripheral, vision is tested.

A surgical procedure which helps treat several retinal conditions, such as retinal detachment, by removing the jelly (vitreous) in the inside of the eye.

The clear gel which fills the middle of the eye and attaches to the retina.

State of the art laser vision correction system which allows surgeons to measure and correct visual imperfections that were previously undetectable with the
technology commonly used to prescribe glasses and contact lenses.

A red contact lens worn in the non-dominant eye to overcome color confusion and the inability to differentiate between red and green (color blindness). The gene that causes color deficiency is on the X chromosome.