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Eye glossary
An eye examination comes with a lot of specialist vocabulary. This glossary explains it in plain language, so you understand what your doctor is telling you, what your report says and what the names of the various procedures mean.
These entries are informational and do not replace an examination or professional advice. Which procedure suits you is always decided by a doctor on the basis of an examination.
A
- Age-related macular degenerationAge-related macular degeneration is a disease of the macula affecting central, sharpest vision.
- AmblyopiaAmblyopia is a condition in which one eye permanently sees worse even though the eye itself is healthy.
- AstigmatismAstigmatism arises when the cornea is not curved evenly in every direction but is shaped more like the back of a spoon than a section of a sphere.
- AutorefractometerAn autorefractometer is an instrument that gives an approximate measurement of the eye’s refractive error.
B
C
- Capsular bagThe capsular bag is the thin transparent envelope holding the natural crystalline lens.
- CataractA cataract is the gradual clouding of the crystalline lens.
- ChalazionA chalazion is a painless firm lump in the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland.
- Colour vision testA colour vision test checks the ability to distinguish colours.
- ConjunctivaThe conjunctiva is the thin transparent membrane covering the white of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids.
- ConjunctivitisConjunctivitis presents as a red eye with burning, watering and discharge.
- Contact lensesContact lenses sit directly on the surface of the eye and correct refractive error without spectacles.
- CorneaThe cornea is the transparent front surface of the eye through which light enters.
- Corneal endotheliumThe endothelium is the single layer of cells on the inner surface of the cornea that continuously pumps water out of it and keeps it clear.
- Corneal flapA corneal flap is the thin layer on the surface of the cornea that the surgeon lifts during LASIK to reach the tissue underneath.
- Corneal topographyCorneal topography is a map of the curvature of the cornea.
- Crystalline lensThe crystalline lens is the transparent body behind the iris that fine-tunes the focus of light onto the retina.
D
- Descemet’s membraneDescemet’s membrane is the thin, tough membrane on which the corneal endothelium sits.
- Diabetic retinopathyDiabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels of the retina caused by diabetes.
- DioptreA dioptre is the unit used to express the power of a spectacle lens or contact lens.
- DMEKDMEK is the thinnest of the lamellar transplants.
- Dry eye syndromeDry eye syndrome arises when there are too few tears or they evaporate too quickly and the tear film stops doing its job.
- DSEK and DSAEKDSEK is a lamellar transplant replacing only the inner part of the cornea, that is the endothelium together with Descemet’s membrane and a thin layer of supporting tissue.
E
F
- Femto-LASIKFemto-LASIK is LASIK in which the flap is created by a femtosecond laser rather than a mechanical blade.
- Femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser works with extremely short pulses that can create a cut inside the cornea without breaking its surface.
- FloatersFloaters are shadowy shapes drifting across the visual field, produced by clumps within the vitreous.
- Fundus examinationA fundus examination is a view of the retina, macula and optic nerve through the pupil.
G
H
I
K
L
- LASEKLASEK is a surface method related to PRK.
- LASIKLASIK is laser vision correction in which a thin flap is created on the surface of the cornea and lifted, an excimer laser reshapes the tissue beneath, and the flap is laid back down.
- LenticuleA lenticule is the thin disc of tissue that a femtosecond laser cuts inside the cornea during SMILE.
M
- MaculaThe macula is a small area at the centre of the retina responsible for the sharpest vision.
- Monofocal lensA monofocal lens has a single focal point, so it focuses at one distance, most often for distance vision.
- Multifocal lensA multifocal lens splits incoming light between several focal points, so the eye sees sharply at more than one distance and dependence on glasses falls..
- MyopiaMyopia means distance vision is blurred while near vision is sharp.
O
P
- PachymetryPachymetry is the measurement of corneal thickness.
- Partial DMEKPartial DMEK is a variant of DMEK in which not the whole circular graft is used but only part of it, for instance a half or a quarter.
- Penetrating keratoplastyPenetrating keratoplasty is the classic transplant, in which the cornea is exchanged through its full thickness and the graft is secured with sutures.
- PerimetryPerimetry is a test of the visual field.
- PhacoemulsificationPhacoemulsification is the standard method of cataract surgery.
- Posterior capsule opacificationPosterior capsule opacification is a clouding of the back wall of the capsular bag that can appear months or years after cataract surgery.
- PresbyopiaPresbyopia is the natural age-related stiffening of the crystalline lens that makes focusing up close harder.
- PRKPRK is a surface laser procedure in which the outermost cell layer of the cornea is removed first and an excimer laser then reshapes the tissue directly beneath it.
- Progressive glassesProgressive glasses have a smooth transition within a single lens between the powers for distance, intermediate range and near.
- PupilThe pupil is the black opening at the centre of the iris through which light passes into the eye.
- Pupil dilationPupil dilation is the temporary widening of the pupils with drops so that more of the retina can be seen through them.
R
- ReferralA referral is a note from a general practitioner directing you to a specialist.
- ReLEx SMILEReLEx SMILE is the trade name for the SMILE method from the manufacturer Carl Zeiss.
- RetinaThe retina is the thin layer of nerve tissue lining the back of the eye that converts light into nerve signals.
- Retinal detachmentRetinal detachment is a condition in which the retina separates from its underlying layer and loses its blood supply.
- Rigid gas permeable lensesRigid gas permeable lenses hold their shape and let oxygen through.
S
- Slit lampThe slit lamp is the core instrument of an eye clinic.
- SMILESMILE is a laser procedure in which a femtosecond laser creates a thin disc of tissue inside the cornea, called a lenticule, which the surgeon then removes through a small surface incision.
- StrabismusStrabismus means the two eyes are not pointing at the same spot.
- StyeA stye is a painful inflammation of a gland at the edge of the eyelid.
T
- Tear filmThe tear film is the thin layer of fluid covering the surface of the eye.
- TonometryTonometry is the measurement of intraocular pressure.
- Toric lensA toric lens has different refractive power in different meridians, so alongside the cataract it also addresses astigmatism.
- TransPRKTransPRK is a variant of PRK in which the excimer laser itself removes the outermost cell layer in a single step along with correcting the refractive error.
- Trifocal lensA trifocal lens is a type of multifocal lens with three focal points covering distance, intermediate range and near.