Vision Glossary
Amblyopia (see Lazy Eye)Astigmastism- A condition in which imperfections in the cornea of the eye cause light to focus imperfectly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.
Cataracts - Cataracts form when protein in the lens begins to clump together and cloud a small area of the eye, resulting in blurry vision.
Cornea - The clear tissue of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. The cornea focuses incoming light first, directing it towards the lens.
Farsightedness - A condition of the eye in which close-up vision is blurred. Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; closer images do not focus clearly on the retina.
Glaucoma - Glaucoma can occur when the natural fluids of the eye are unable to drain properly, causing a build up of intraocular pressure.
Hyperopia - A condition of the eye in which close-up vision is blurred. Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; closer images do not focus clearly on the retina.
Iris - The colored part of the eye; the iris controls the amount of light that passes through the pupil.
Keratoconus - Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that results in thinning corneal tissue, causing the cornea to lose its natural curvature. This leads impaired vision due to the improper focusing of light rays on the retina.
Lazy Eye (the medical term is amblyopia) has more to do with the brain’s ability to process visual information received from both eyes than a defect in the structure of the problem eye itself. (Learning to flex the muscles around the near useless eye may stimulate it into action if this gentle exercise is started at a young enough age and in combination with an eye patch. --Editor)
Lens - The transparent, double-convex portion of the eye that further focuses light from the cornea onto the retina.
Macular Degeneration - Also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular degeneration is an eye disease that slowly destroys central vision and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.
Monovision - Monovision is a procedure that corrects one eye for distance vision, while correcting the other eye for near vision. It is typically used to treat patients suffering from presbyopia.
Myopia - A condition of the eye in which distance vision is blurred. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; distant images do not focus clearly on the retina.
Nearsightedness - A condition of the eye in which distance vision is blurred. Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; distant images do not focus clearly on the retina.
Occipital Lobe - The section of the brain that converts nerve impulses from the eyes into images.
Optic Nerve - The nerve conduit that leads from the retina to the occipital lobe.
Presbyopia - The natural loss of close-up vision as one gets older. Presbyopia is caused by inflexibility of the eye's lens, a condition that prohibits the eye from focusing properly on objects up-close.
Pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis) is usually a relatively mild eye infection. Pink eye symptoms include pinkness or redness in the eyes, swollen eyelids, itching, and burning. Since pink eye passes quickly, treatment has more to do with prevention than serious medical care.
Pupil - The opening in the iris through which light passes. The irises dilate the pupils in the darkness to admit more light and contract them when it is too bright.
Retina - The back wall of the eyeball; the retina is covered with specialized nerve cells that convert images to electric energy.
Glossary from the DocShop.
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