GLOSSARY

CATARACTS

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye and affects your vision. Cataracts are very common in older adults. More than half of all people over the age of 80 in the United States either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

Common symptoms are: • Blurry vision • Colors that seem faded • Glare • Trouble seeing at night • Double vision • Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear

Cataracts usually develop slowly. New glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses can help at first. Surgery is also an option. It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help to delay cataracts.

CORNEAL DRYNESS

The clear area in the front of the eye often becomes dry and cause blurred vision. Artificial tears can improve corneal dryness.

GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma damages the eye’s optic nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve. Often there are no symptoms at first, but a comprehensive eye exam can detect it.

People at risk should get eye exams at least every two years. They include • African Americans over age 40 • People over age 60, especially Mexican Americans • People with a family history of glaucoma

Early treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. Treatments usually include prescription eye drops and/or surgery.

HEMORRHAGES

An eye hemorrhage is a discharge of blood within the eye. It often occurs inside the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the front of the eyeball. This type of bleeding is called a sub conjunctival hemorrhage and produces an easily visible red patch on the eye.

Less commonly bleeding may also take place in the vitreous body, the large, round chamber located between the lens, near the front of the eye, and the retina at the back of the eye. This space contains the vitreous humor, a clear, gelatinous fluid.

The most serious eye hemorrhages take place in the retina itself. If the eye is thought of as a camera, the retina could be considered the film. It contains the rod cells that perceive light and the cone cells that perceive both light and color.

MACULA

The macula is located roughly in the center of the retina, temporal to the optic nerve. It is a small and highly sensitive part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision. The fovea is the very center of the macula. The macula allows us to appreciate detail and perform tasks that require central vision, such as reading.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Ophthalmologists are surgical and medical specialists who complete medical school (MD) and an ophthalmology residency. This requires eight or more years of post college training.

Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat diseases affecting the eye, orbit, and visual system of the brain using all available methods including surgery, medicine, and lenses.

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine which deals with disease and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eye, brain, and surrounding areas, such as the lacrimal system and eyelids.

OPHTHALMOLOGY SUBSPECIALTIES

Cornea specialist: An ophthalmologist that diagnose and treats diseases of the cornea. (See diagram on page 19).

Glaucoma specialist: An ophthalmologist that treats increased intraocular pressure with surgery or medicine eye drops.

Neuro-ophthalmologist: A neurologist or ophthalmologist that specializes in disorders of the optic nerve and visual pathways to and in the brain.

Retina Specialist: An ophthalmologist that diagnosis and treats diseases of the retina or back part of the eye.

OPTOMETRY

Optometrists are primary health care providers for the diagnosis and management of eye diseases and visual system refractive disorders. They can examine and diagnose many disorders of the eyes and visual system, and treat some primary ocular diseases, including refractive problems (i.e., near or far sightedness).

PHOTOGRAPHER OR OPHTHALMIC PHOTOGRAPHER

Photographers are trained at getting good clear images of a patient’s retina. By combining a knowledge of the camera with insight to eye problems or diseases, a photographer can accurately record the condition of the patient’s retina at the time of the exam.

RETINA

The retina is a multi-layered sensory tissue that lines the back of the eye. It contains millions of photoreceptors that capture light rays and convert them into electrical impulses. These impulses travel along the optic nerve to the brain where they are turned into images.

RETINOPATHY

Diabetic retinopathy involves damage to the retina caused by complications of diabetes mellitus, which can eventually lead to blindness. Diabetes affects many parts of the body, including the eyes. It can affect up to 80% of all patients who have had diabetes for at least 10 years. However, research shows that at least 90% of these new cases could be reduced if there is proper and vigilant treatment and monitoring of the eyes.

SYNECHIA

An eye condition where the iris adheres to either the cornea (i.e. anterior synechia) or lens (i.e. posterior synechia). Synechiae can be caused by ocular trauma or iritis and lead to certain types of glaucoma. It is sometimes visible on careful examination but usually more easily through an ophthalmoscope or slitlamp.