Ablation: Surgical removal of tissue, typically using a cool beam laser.
Accommodation: The eye’s ability to change its focus between far and near objects.
Astigmatism: A common eye condition that causes blurred, distorted vision due to an uneven, “football-shaped” cornea. Often corrected with toric lenses.
Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids.
Cataract: A clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens.
Conjunctiva: Mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and helps keep the eye moist.
Conjunctivitis: Inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva; commonly known as pinkeye.
Cornea: Clear tissue that forms the front part of the eyeball; the cornea bends light and provides most of the eye’s focusing power.
Diabetic Retinopathy: A complication of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina and may lead to vision loss.
Dry Eye: A common condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears to keep the eye moist.
Epithelium: The thin, outermost layer of the cornea.
Excimer Laser: An ultraviolet laser used during LASIK and other refractive surgery.
Femtosecond Laser: A highly precise laser used to reshape the cornea during laser-assisted cataract surgery.
Glaucoma: A disease characterized by increased pressure within the eye; if left untreated, glaucoma causes gradual vision loss and eventually, total blindness.
Hyperopia: Also called farsightedness; the inability to see near objects as clearly as far objects.
Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL): A permanent, artificial lens that is surgically implanted in the eye during cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange.
Iridotomy: A laser procedure to treat closed-angle glaucoma.
Keratoconus: A progressive thinning of the cornea that causes it to bulge outward, gradually forming a rounded cone shape.
LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis): A type of refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea; typically indicated for patients whose corneas are too thin for traditional LASIK.
Laser: Device that generates an intense and highly concentrated beam of light.
LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis): A type of refractive surgery that uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea.
Legally Blind: A visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in both eyes.
Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI): Small incisions that are made in the cornea to correct astigmatism.
Macula: A small spot on the eye’s retina where vision is keenest.
Macular Degeneration: Disease of the macula, which results in the loss of central vision.
Microkeratome: A precision instrument with an oscillating blade that is used to create a corneal flap during eye surgery.
Monovision: A surgical technique that corrects one eye for near vision and the other for distance, reducing the need for reading glasses in patients with presbyopia.
Myopia: Also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness, the inability to see distant objects as clearly as near objects.
Ophthalmologist: Physicians who specialize in comprehensive eye and vision care. Unlike optometrists and opticians, they are licensed to practice medicine and surgery.
Phacoemulsification: Also known as “phaco,” a cataract removal procedure in which the eye’s clouded lens is broken up using gentle sound waves.
Phakic Intraocular Lenses (IOLs): Also known as implantable contact lenses; artificial lenses that are implanted over the eye’s natural lens to correct refractive errors.
Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK): A type of “no-flap” refractive surgery that uses an excimer laser to gently remove the epithelium so that the underlying cornea can be reshaped.
Presbyopia: A common, age-related loss of elasticity in the eye’s lens which causes farsightedness; patients with presbyopia must use reading glasses to see up close.
Punctal Plug: A small device that temporarily closes the duct where tears drain from the eye; used to treat severe dry eye.
Refractive Errors: The eye’s inability to properly refract (focus) light on the retina; refractive errors cause many common vision problems including hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism.
Refractive Lens Exchange: Procedure in which the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant; also known as Clear Lens Extraction (CLE).
Refractive Surgery: Surgical procedures that reshape the cornea to correct vision problems caused by refractive errors.
Retina: The light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain.
Retinal Detachment: A separation of the retina from its connection at the back of the eye; if not promptly treated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.
Toric: Describes a lens with two curves instead of one; toric lenses (eyeglasses, contacts and IOLs) are primarily used to correct astigmatism.
Trabecular Meshwork: Drainage channels located inside the eye.
Trabeculoplasty: A laser procedure for the treatment of glaucoma that remodels the trabecular meshwork in order to increase drainage and lower pressure in the eye.
