Glossary

Acuity – measurement of sharpness or clarity of vision
Astigmatism – The eye is out of round, being more the shape of a rugby ball than a soccer ball.
Amblyopia – lazy eye. Blurred vision in early childhood prevents visual development.
Ametropia – an error in the focus mechanism of the eye
Amsler grid – a grid for assessing vision in macular degeneration
Angiogram – a photographic examination of the retina using fluorescein dye
Anisocoria – different sized pupils
Anisometropia – different refraction between the two eyes
Aniridia – absent iris
Aneurysm – a small blowout of a capillary or arteriole
Angioid streak- a defect in the pigment layer of the retina, caused by pseudoxanthoma elasticum usually
Anterior chamber – fluid filled space between the cornea, iris and lens.
Aqueous – clear salty fluid filling the front part of the eye
Asteroid hyalites – deposits in the vitreous gel, often in diabetics
Avastin - a drug injected into the eye to reduce leakage or bleeding
BCC – basal cell carcinoma, the common skin cancer caused by sun exposure
Blepharitis – chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins, red rims and red eyes
Canthus – inner and outer angles formed by eyelids
Carotid – large artery in the neck supplying blood to brain and eye
Cataract – hazy lens in the eye
Choroid – the layer of blood vessels under the retina
Ciliary body – a gland that produces aqueous
Conjunctiva – a protective layer on the outside of the eye, keeps the eye moist
Chalazion – a chronic inflammatory lump in the eyelid glands
CSR – central serous retinopathy, a small blister of fluid under the macula
Cornea – the clear part of the eye through which light initially passes to reach the lens
Cryotherapy – freezing treatment used for retinal tears, glaucoma, and other problems
Diabetes – inability of the body to regulate the metabolism of sugar
Diabetic retinopathy – damage to blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes
Drusen – deposits of metabolic debris under the retina
Dry eye – deficiency of lubrication of the eye.
Ectropion – outward turning of the eyelid
Emmetropia – normal focus of the eye
Endophthalmitis – severe infection inside the eye
Entropion – inward turning of the eyelid
Episcleritis – inflammation of tissue between conjunctiva and sclera
Epiphora – watery eyes
Excimer laser – laser for vision correction
ERG – measurement of the electrical currents made in the retina
Floaters – small protein strands in the vitreous gel.
Fluorescein – a yellow dye that fluoresces in blue light
Fovea – central part of the macula, region of best eye sight
Gas – a bubble injected into the eye, can be air, sulphur hexafluoride, perfluoropropane
Glaucoma – excessive pressure in the eye damaging the optic nerve
Haemangioma – benign tumour of blood vessels
Haematoma – bruise
Herpes simplex – cold sore virus
Herpes zoster – chicken pox virus
Hypermetropia – far sighted, can see in the distance but not close
Hyphaema – blood in the anterior chamber or aqueous fluid
Hypopyon – pus in the anterior chamber or aqueous fluid
Hypotony – low eye pressure
Idiopathic – of unknown cause
Inflammation – the response of the body to a disease or injury
IOL – an  acrylic lens implanted in the eye after removal of cataract
IOP – intraocular pressure, or eye pressure, not related to blood pressure
Iris – the coloured part of the eye, similar to the shutter in a camera
Iritis – inflammation inside the eye, AKA uveitis
Ischaemia – deprivation of blood supply
Juxtafoveal – next to the fovea
Keratitis – inflammation of the cornea
Keratoconus – a conical shape to the cornea, rather than rounded
LASIK – laser for vision correction
Limbus – the junction of the clear and white parts of the front of the eye
Lucentis – a drug injected into the eye to reduce leakage or bleeding
Macula – the small central part of the retina in which most vision is done.
Macular degeneration – age related wear and tear in the macula, sometimes with bleeding
Macular hole – a small loss of tissue in the centre of the macula
Macular fibrosis – wrinkling of the macula, caused by a membrane
Macular oedema – fluid in the macula, often in little cysts
Melanoma – a malignant tumour inside the eye, usually in the choroids, not similar to a skin melanoma
Meningioma – benign brain tumour
Metastasis – cancer spreading through the body
Metamorphopsia – distorted vision, usually due to macular problems
Microaneurysm – small blowout of a capillary in the retina
Migraine – one or more or the following: transient loss of part of the vision, zig zag flashing lights, headache, nausea. Caused by spasm of blood vessels in the brain
Myopia – short sighted, can see up close but not far away
Naevus – benign pigmented lesion, freckle
Neovascular – abnormal growth of blood vessels
Neuron – nerve cell
Nuclear sclerosis – yellow brown discolouration of the lens
Nystagmus – wobbly eyes
OCT – computerized imaging of the retina, in cross section
Optic nerve – a cable that takes light signals from the retina to the brain
Optic chiasm – an intersection of the two optic nerves, under the brain
Occipital cortex – the back of the brain in which eyesight is perceived by you
Optic neuritis – inflammation of the optic nerve
Optic neuropathy – damage to the optic nerve by mini-stroke or degeneration
Phacoemulsification – high frequency ultrasound used to remove cataract
Photophobia – sensitivity to light
Photopsia – flashes of light seen within the eye
Pingueculum – a yellow/red lump on the conjunctiva
Pituitary gland – a hormone secreting gland underneath the brain, close to the optic
chiasm
Posterior subcapsular opacity – haze in the membrane behind a lens implant
Presbyopia – loss of ability to focus in close after age 40
Proptosis – eyeball displaced forward in the socket, bulging
PRP – panretinal laser, used in diabetic retinopathy
Pseudoexfoliation – abnormal deposits on the lens causing glaucoma and weakening of the ligments holding the lens in place
Pseudohole – appearances of a macular hole, but caused by an epiretinal membrane
Pterygium – a sun-related degeneration on the conjunctiva and cornea
Ptosis – a drooping eyelid
Pupil – the black hole in the iris, the aperture
Refraction – measuring the focus of the eye
Refractive error – an error in the focus mechanism of the eye
Retina – a thin film in the back of the eye that detects light and turns it into eyesight.
Retinal tear – a rip in the retina, usually caused by the vitreous gel
Retinal detachment – the retina breaks away from its normal position
Retina vein occlusion – blockage of veins in the retina, often related to glaucoma or blood pressure
Retinoblastoma – a highly malignant tumour in the retina of infants or children
Retinoschisis – splitting of the retina, usually not a major problem
Rubeosis iridis – abnormal blood vessels on the iris, causing severe glaucoma
SCC – squamous cell carcinoma, less common skin cancer but more aggressive
Sclera – the white of the eye, actually a very tough protective coat
Scleral buckle – a silicone strap around the eye, used to repair retinal detachment
Scleritis – inflammation of the sclera
Scotoma – missing part of the visual field
Seborrheic keratosis – rough skin lesions seen with age
Sequelae – consequences
Serous – caused by accumulation of fluid
Silicone oil – an inert oil injected into the eye for severe retinal detachment
Squint – a turn in one eye. Also strabismus
Staphyloma – bulging of a part of the sclera
Stroke – loss of blood supply to a part of the brain
Subluxated – displaced
Telangiectasis – dilated, abnormal capillaries
Toxoplasmosis – inflammation of retina and choroids caused by a parasite
Trabeculectomy – surgery for glaucoma
Trabeculoplasty – laser for glaucoma
Triamcinolone – a steroid injected into the eye
Tunnel vision – loss of side vision, makes walking around difficult
Vasculitis – inflammation of blood vessels
Visual field – measuring the extent of one’s side vision
Vitreous gel – a jelly that fills most of the eye. It can be safely removed if needed.
Vitrectomy – surgery to remove the vitreous gel
YAG – Yttrium Aluminium Garnet, a solid state laser