Eyecyclopedia

AMBLYOPIA -- Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a vision problem that affects just two to three percent of the population, but if left uncorrected, it can have a very big impact on their lives. Central vision does not develop properly, usually in one eye, which is called amblyopic. A related condition, strabismus, sometimes causes amblyopia.
Untreated amblyopia may lead to functional blindness in the affected eye. Although the amblyopic eye has the capability to see, the brain "turns off" this eye because vision is very blurred. The brain elects to see only with the stronger eye.
ANISOMETROPIA -- A condition of the eyes in which they have unequal refractive power.

ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING -- A coating on the front or back of the lens, which minimizes the glare for patients who are extremely bothered by glare.

APHAKIA -- The absence of the lens of the eye.

ASTHENOPIA -- Eyestrain.

ASTIGMATISM -- Objects are blurred at all distances because the shape of the cornea is not uniform.

BIFOCAL LENSES -- Lenses containing two focal lengths, usually arranged with the focus for distance above and near focus below.

BLEPHARITIS -- Blepharitis is the general term for inflammation of the eyelids. This may occur from irritations and allergies, insect bites, infections, etc. Blepharitis is an eye infection which produces symptoms of sticky, crust and reddened eyelids. This eye infection is caused when excess oil is produced in the glands near the eyelashes creating a growing environment for bacteria. Blepharitis may vary from a chronic, mild condition to a severe form with ulceration of the lids and damage to the eyes. Signs and symptoms may include: itching, swelling, redness, scaling and crusting of the lashes and lid margins. Blepharitis may also be part of more widespread skin conditions including seborrhea, acne, and rosacea. This condition is easily treated and rarely threatens sight, but it may cause the loss of eyelashes. Mild, nonspecific or seborrheic varieties may simply require warm soaks and daily lid hygiene. Other infectious varieties of blepharitis may require antibiotics and/or cortisone creams or even oral antibiotics all of which should only be used under medical supervision.

CATARACT -- A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye's natural lens. The formation of a cataract occurs during the normal process of aging. Although cataracts may affect people of any age, they are most common in older adults.
CHALAZION/CYSTS/STYES -- Small lumps or bags filled with fluid that form on the upper or lower eyelids are called cysts. A cyst is caused when an oil-producing gland in the eyelid becomes blocked and in some cases, infected. There are times when a cyst can enlarge to the point that vision is affected. And sometimes a cyst will remain small and disappear on its own without the need for medical treatment. There are also times when a cyst will remain and enlarge to a size that causes pressure on the cornea. This can cause a slight impairing of the vision. Treatment of a cyst may consist of applying a warm compress to the eye or your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove the cyst. A chalazion cyst is an inflammation and swelling in one or more of the oil glands of the lid margin (meibomian glands). An acute infection of a meibomian gland is called an acute chalazion or internal hordeolum. This type of chalazion is often loosely referred to as a "sty." A sty is an infection that can occur at the base of the eyelashes. Acute chalazions often respond well to hot compresses and the instillation of antibiotic drops or ointment.
COLOR BLINDNESS -- Color blindness is not a form of blindness at all, but a deficiency in the way you see color. With this vision problem, you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, such as red and green or blue and yellow. Red-green color deficiency is the most common form of color blindness; a less common form is blue-yellow color deficiency.

COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION --This examination service provides evaluation of the complete visual system. Comprehensive services constitute a single service entity, although it is not necessary to perform all services in one session.

CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye) -- The mere mention of the words "Pink Eye," gets immediate attention from parents and teachers everywhere, largely because "Pink Eye" is highly contagious, and is often passed from one child to another. The medical term for pink eye is conjunctivitis. It is important to note that all cases of conjunctivitis are not "pink eye" and there is no need concern about the contagion of noninfectious forms of conjunctivitis such as allergic, chemical or environmental varieties. "Pink Eye" is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, or the transparent membrane lining the eyelids and the white of the eye. Redness or itching of the eye, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and a gritty sensation in the eyes are all indications that conjunctivitis might be present. Thick yellow secretions may form a crust during the night, making the eye stick shut in the morning. The infection is caused by bacteria or virus and is very contagious. Allergies can also cause conjunctivitis. Depending upon the cause, treatments can vary. Hot or cold compresses or medicated eye drops or gels usually are the recommended course of treatment.

CONTACT LENSES -- Lenses which fit directly on the eyeball under the eyelids.

CORNEA -- The cornea is the clear outer covering of the eye. The cornea covers the colored portion of the eye and protects it, much like a crystal covers the face of a watch. Light rays enter the eye through the cornea and are later interpreted by the brain.
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY -- Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by the deterioration of blood vessels nourishing the retina at the back of the eye. This condition can cause blindness in people under age 65 and the longer a person has diabetes, the greater the chance of developing this complication. There is no pain associated with diabetic retinopathy. Gradual blurring of vision may occur, but changes in the eye can go undetected without a medical eye exam. In many cases, treatment may not be required; in others, laser treatments may be recommended to halt further progress of the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to preventing visual loss from diabetic retinopathy.

DIPLOPIA -- Diplopia is more commonly known as double vision. Each eye has six different muscles responsible for moving it in various directions. That means the brain has to control 12 eye muscles simultaneously. The control of these 12 muscles is coordinated through a system of nerve connections that course throughout the brainstem. Not surpisingly, such a complex system is vulnerable to a large number of disease conditions. Three different cranial nerves supply the eye muscles of each eye, and anything causing damage to them can cause double vision. Strokes, trauma (injury) and brain tumors are some of the things that can damage these cranial nerves. Diabetes is also a common cause of double vision and occurs when the damage caused by diabetes causes a small stroke to one of the cranial nerves. Any disease process that involves the eye muscles themselves can also cause double vision. Interestingly, children born with eye alignment problems, such as esotropia ("crossed eyes"), do not experience double vision. Many people have some imbalance of their alignment mechanisms, and for them the optometrist can usually help with the prescription of a prism in their glasses. Prisms help align the images properly when the eyes fail to do the job, thus eliminating double vision.

DRY EYE -- Normally, glands in your eyelids manufacture tears which are washed across your eye every time you blink. When your eye produces too few tears, or when the tears drain too quickly from the eye, the resulting condition is called "dry eye." Your eyes may burn or feel itchy, gritty, red and dry. In some cases, the eyelids may stick together upon awakening in the morning or you might find it difficult to wear contact lenses. The common first treatment for dry eye is eye drops known as "artificial tears." An advanced technique involves the restiction or closing of the drainage passages in the eyelid, forcing tear film to build up on the surface of the eye. The procedure to put stoppers in these passages is relatively simple and can be performed in our office on an outpatient basis.
ECTROPION -- It is an outward turning of the lower eyelid away from the eye. This may occur as a normal consequence of aging in some individuals but can also result from various inflammations as well as chemical and thermal burns. The diagnosis of ectropion is usually readily apparent - all or part of the lower lid is drawn away from the eye. When the tear drainage punctum at the nasal corner of the lid is turned outward significantly, tears seem to overflow the lid. Many cases of age-related ectropion can be left untreated providing there are no troublesome symptoms such as excess tearing, burning and irritation, no threat to the health of the cornea and no significant cosmetic deformity. When indicated by an of the latter mentioned complications, surgery can be performed under local anesthesia as an out-patient, or even in-office procedure.
ENTROPION -- It is an inward rotation of the lid (usually lower lid) such that the lashes tend to rub against the eye. Most cases of entropion result from the normal consequences of aging. Other cases include certain eyelid inflammations, infections or injuries. The entropion may be constant or intermittent. Symptoms include irritation, foreign body sensation, tearing, discharge and blurred vision. It is usually apparent by direct inspection that the lower lid edge has turned inward. In cases due to infections and inflammations, treatment of the underlying cause usually improves or eliminates the entropion. Some mild cases of entropion can simply be treated by nightly taping of the lower lid to the cheek to pull the lid margin and lashes into the normal position. More severe cases, especially with significant risk of lash irritation to the eye, require surgery to restore the lid to its proper position.

ESOPHORIA (Convergent Squint) -- A tendency of one eye to turn inward.

ESOTROPIA (Internal Squint) -- A manifest inward deviation of the eye.

EXOPHORIA (Divergent Squint) -- A tendency of one eye to turn outward.

EXOTROPIA (External Squint) -- A manifest outward deviation of one eye.

EYEWEAR -- Lenses, Frame and/or Contact Lenses.

FLASHES AND FLOATERS -- Retinal tears sometimes include sudden, unexplained flashes of light and moving black spots in the vision called "floaters." Usually, retinal tears are at the edges of the eye and affect only your peripheral vision. If you experience floaters or flashes, please call to arrange an eye exam. New retinal tears may be easily treated before they lead to a more severe retinal detachment.

FIELD OF VISION -- The entire area which can be seen without shifting the gaze.

FRAME - The structural part(s) that provide support to the lenses.

GLAUCOMA -- Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure created by the fluid in one or both eyes builds up to an abnormally high level. When this pressure remains elevated over a period of time, damage occurs to the delicate visual structures. Left untreated, blindness often results.

HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION (HMO) -- An organization engaged in providing managed care and assuming the risk for health related benefits.

HETEROPHORIA -- A constant tendency of one eye to deviate in one or another direction due to imperfect balance of ocular muscles.

HYPEROPIA (Farsightedness) -- The ability to see distant objects more easily than near ones. A small degree of farsightedness is normal in infants and children. It does not interfere with vision and requires no correction. It is only when the farsightedness becomes excessive, or causes the eyes to cross, that glasses are required.

IRIS -- The colored part of the eye that controls how much light enters, by adjusting pupil size (the pupil being the opening in the center of the iris). Analogous to the diaphragm in the lens of a camera.

KERATOCONUS -- Cone-shaped deformity of the cornea.

LENS OR LENSES -- Ophthalmic corrective lens or lenses, either glass or plastic, ground or molded as prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, to be fitted into a frame.

LENTICULAR -- Special non-cataract lenses for patients who have cataracts.

LOW VISION -- When ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses are unable to bring a patients sight up to normal sharpness.

MACULAR DEGENERATION -- Age-Related Macular Degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in the United States for individuals over 65 years of age. The central area of the retina is called the macula. With age, tissues break down and fluids begin to seep between the layers of the retina, causing them to seperate. As they do, the result is macular degeneration. The detatchment begins with symptoms like black spots, flashes of light, a shadowy area in the side vision, wavy or watery vision. There is no known cure for macular degeneration, however, lasers are used to destroy abnormal blood vessels and repair weak areas of the macula by destroying worn tissue and allowing new tissue to grow.

MEDICALLY NECESSARY -- Applies to those patients who need contact lenses due to medical situations/conditions.

MYDRIATIC -- A drug that dilates the pupil.

MYOPIA (Nearsightedness) -- The ability see near objects more clearly than those at a distance. Nearsightedness is very rare in infants and toddlers, but becomes more common in school-age children. Eyeglasses will help clear the vision but will not "cure" the problem. Despite using glasses, near-sightedness will generally increase in amount until the mid-teenage years so that periodic follow-up examinations by an ophthalmologist are indicated.

NON-PARTICIPATING PROVIDER -- An ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician who is not a contracted provider. All services must be paid in full by the patient at the time services are rendered and benefit allowances will be paid to the enrollee.

NYSTAGMUS -- An involuntary, rhythmical movement of the eyeballs.

OCULAR MIGRAIN -- Migraines can be produced by the body's neurological responses to certain triggers such as hormonal changes, flashing lights, or chemicals in foods or medications. One result of these triggers may be an intense headache that, if untreated, can last for hours or even days. During migraine processes, changes also may take place in blood flow to the area of the brain responsible for vision (visual cortex or occipital lobe). Resulting ophthalmic or ocular migraines commonly can produce visual symptoms even without a headache.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST -- An ophthalmologist (MD) is a medical doctor who specializes in the eye. They perform eye exams, treat disease, prescribe medication, and perform surgery. They may also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

OPHTHALMOSCOPE -- Device for viewing the interior of the eye or the retina.

OPTIC NERVE -- The nerve which carries visual impulses from the retina to the brain.

OPTICIAN -- A professional who designs, verifies and dispenses lenses, frames and other fabricated optical devices upon the prescription of an ophthalmologist or an optometrist.

OPTOMETRIST -- An optometrist (OD) is a doctor who examines eyes for both vision and health problems, prescribes glasses, and fits contact lenses. Optometrists prescribe many ophthalmic medications and may participate in your pre- and postoperative care if you have eye surgery. An optometrist must complete four years of post-graduate optometry school.

OVERSIZE LENS -- A lens which exceeds 61 millimeters in diameter.

PARTICIPATING PROVIDER -- An ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician who accepts benefit allowances as payment-in-full for covered services of the enrollee. All other services and benefit overages are the patients responsibility.

PERIPHERAL -- Ability to perceive the presence, motion, or color of objects outside the direct line of vision.

PHOTOPHOBIA -- Abnormal sensitivity to light.

PHOTOSENSITIVE LENSES -- Lenses that darken in the presence of light.

PINGUECULA -- Pingueculae are yellowish, slightly raised lesions that form on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye (sclera) close to the edge of the cornea. They are typically found in the open space between your eyelids (palpebral fissure), which also happens to be the area exposed to the sun. While pingueculae are more common in middle-aged or older people who spend significant amounts of time in the sun, they can also be found in younger people and even children — especially those who spend a lot of time in the sun without protection such as sunglasses or hats.
PTOSIS -- Ptosis refers to a situation in which the eyelids are not as open as they should be. This situation is caused by a weakness of a muscle that opens the upper eyelid. When ptosis is mild, it is just a cosmetic problem. However, ptosis can interfere with vision if it is severe enough to block the vision in the eye. In infancy, it is important that ptosis be eliminated so that vision will develop normally. Correction of ptosis usually requires surgery on the eyelid(\(\(s).

PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION (PPO) -- An organization of providers who have agreed to provide designated services and accept assignment of benefits for those services.

PRESBYOPIA -- The normal process of aging causes the lens of the eye to become less flexible and the loss of the ability to focus on near objects.

PRISM -- A wedge-shaped piece of glass or plastic which possesses the power of refracting rays of light toward its base.

PROGRESSIVE LENSES -- Bifocal or trifocal lenses which appear to be single vision with no distinct lines between the various focal lengths.

PTERIGIUM -- Pterygia are wedge- or wing-shaped growths of benign fibrous tissue with blood vessels (fibrovascular), typically located on the surface tissue of the sclera. In extreme cases, pterygia may grow onto the eye's cornea and interfere with vision. Because a pterygium resembles tissue or film growing over the eye, a person who has one may become concerned about personal appearance. As with pingueculae, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun may play a role in the formation of pterygia.

REFRACTION -- Determination of the optical power of the eye.

REFRACTIVE ERROR -- A defect in the eye that prevents light from being brought to a single focus exact on the retina.

RETINA -- The retina is the delicate cup-shaped lining at the back of the eye. About the size of a postage stamp and the thickness of a dime, the retina is essential to vision. It is compared to the film in a camera - receiving an image to be developed in the brain. Retinal problems are found to be more common among diabetics and older adults. When examining your retina, a doctor is usually looking for evidence of macular degeneration, retinal tears, breaks or detachments, or leaking blood vessels which signal diabetic retinopathy.
RETINAL DETACHMENT -- A retinal detachment is a serious and sight-threatening event, occurring when the retina becomes separated from its underlying supportive tissue. The retina cannot function when these layers are detached, and unless it is reattached soon, permanent vision loss may result.

RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA -- Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare, inherited disease in which the light-sensitive retina of the eye slowly and progressively degenerates. Eventually, blindness results.

ROUTINE EXAMINATION -- To test the visual and health conditions of the eye and the prescribing of corrective measures such as glasses, contact lenses, or medication.

SCOTOMA -- A blind or partially blind area in the visual field.

SINGLE VISION -- Lenses with only one focal length.

SPORTS VISION -- Vision evaluation, treatment, management, care and consultation designed to protect, correct, and enhance vision in order to make sports safer and more successful.

STRABISMUS -- Strabismus is a condition where your eyes don't look toward the same object together. One eye moves normally, while the other points in (esotropia or "crossed eyes"), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Strabismus can lead to amblyopia. Strabismus is the physical disorder, and amblyopia is the visual consequence.

SUBNORMAL VISION AIDS -- Devices which assist patients who are partially sighted, partially blind or legally blind such as ocular microscopes, hand held magnifiers, etc.

TINT -- Color added to lenses for either cosmetic or sun-sensitivity reasons.

TONOMETRY -- A test for measuring ocular tension, used to detect the absence or presence of glaucoma.

TRIFOCAL LENSES -- Lenses containing three focal lengths, usually arranged with the focus for distance above, intermediate distance in the middle, and near vision below.

UVIETIS -- Uveitis is inflammation of the eye's uvea. The uvea is the eye's middle layer that consists of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Uveitis is often classified by which part of the uvea it affects. Anterior uveitis refers to inflammation of the iris alone or the iris and ciliary body; anterior uveitis is the most common form. Intermediate uveitis refers to inflammation of the ciliary body. Posterior uveitis is inflammation of the choroid. Diffuse uveitis is inflammation in all areas of the uvea. Many cases of uveitis are chronic, and they can produce numerous possible complications, including cataracts, lowered or raised intraocular pressure, glaucoma, retinal problems (such as neovascularization or retinal detachment), cystoid macular edema and band keratopathy. These complications can result in vision loss.

VISION -- The ability to see and interpret what is seen.

VISUAL ACUITY -- The sharpness of vision, the ability of the eye to distinguish detail. You may be pleased to hear that you have 20/20 vision and think you have perfect vision. But do you? Not necessarily. 20/20 only indicates how sharp or clear your vision is at a distance. Overall vision also includes peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision. 20/20 describes normal visual clarity or sharpness measured at a distance of 20 feet from an object. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. Is 25/25 vision better than 20/20?
No. 25/25 means normal sharpness of vision, or visual acuity, at 25 feet just as 20/20 indicates normal vision at 20 feet. Why do some people have less than 20/20? The ability to see objects clearly is affected by many factors. Eye conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or eye diseases influence visual acuity. Most people with vision slightly below 20/20 function very well, whereas some people who have better than 20/20 vision feel that their vision is not satisfactory. Everybody's visual expectations are different and satisfactory vision is far more complex than just being able to see 20/20.