conjunctivitis: "pink eye"-an inflammation and redness of the conjunctiva of the eye. Can be caused by environmental factors, bacteria, virus or allergies.
dry eye syndrome: a deficiency in any of the tear film components which lead to the loss of the tear film's stability. Common symptoms are scratchy or sandy sensation alone or in conjunction with tearing, burning, redness and pain.
foreign body/material: any object which lodges in the eye and is usually removed by an eye care practitioner.
single vision: lenses prescribed for distant and/or close vision with only one power.
bifocal: lens with one part designed for distance vision and the other part designed for close vision.
multifocal: lens designed for varying ranges of focus.
ANSI: American National Standards Institute
astigmatism: an irregular shape to the cornea and/or lens of the eye whichcauses blurriness for both distance and close vision.
presbyopia: the loss of elasticity to the lens of the eye and its components which causes blurriness for close vision.
myopia: "near-sightedness"-when the eye has too much power and causes an image to focus in front of the retina. Requires a "-" lens to correct the focus.
hyperopia: "far-sightedness"-when the eye does not have enough power and causes an image to focus behind the retina. Requires a "+" lens to correct the focus.
amblyopia: "lazy eye";-poor vision that occurs when the brain ignores one or both eyes. If untreated, it may keep the vision from developing normally.
gas permeable: a semi-rigid polymer used to make contact lenses.
macular degeneration: an eye disease usually in older persons which results in damage to the macula of the retina. The macula is responsible for central detail vision. Damage to this area results in a decrease or loss of vision in this area and shows as a hazy or blind spot.
cataracts: a painless, clouding of the lens of the eye which can cause blurred vision, an increase in glare and a change in color vision.
glaucoma: a disease of the eye in which the intra-ocular pressure increases to a point where it causes damage to the nerve fiber layer of the retina. If untreated can lead to peripheral vision loss.
diabetic retinopathy: damage to the retina due to complications of diabetes which results in hemorrhages, leaking to retinal blood vessels and/or structural changes to the same blood vessels.
hypertensive retinopathy: damage to the retina due to consequences of high blood pressure which results from narrowing of the retinal blood vessels as well as thickening of their walls and/or leaking. If untreated can result in loss of vision.
retinal detachment: occurs when part of the sensory retina is lifted or completely off the underlying retinal pigment epithelial layer.
strabismus: "lazy";-occurs when the eyes are not aligned. If untreated it can lead to amblyopia in one or both eyes.
melanoma: usually a dark colored pigmented tumor located in the retina.
retinal tear: rips or breaks in the sensory retina.
blepharitis: an infection of the eyelid margins which causes burning, grittiness, crusting of the eyelashes and/or redness of the lid margins.
vitreous floaters: "floaters";-debris which floats around inside the gel or vitreous of the eye which causes a person to see spots, cobwebs or veils.
chalazion: "stye";-a chronic localized inflammation of the eyelid which does not respond to typical treatment and may need to be excised surgically.
hordeolum:"stye";-a localized infection or inflammation of one or more glands of the eyelids.
meibomianitis: an inflammation or obstruction of the meibomian glands of the eyelids.
choroidal nevus: "freckle";-benign pigmented spot located in the retina. Must be differentiated from a melanoma.