Glossary of Terms

Glossary

Unfortunately, ophthalmology sometimes involves a lot of big words, and you may hear a term you don’t know now and then— or you may hear multiple terms used to describe the same thing. Hopefully, this short glossary will help clear up any confusion. These are some of the most common buzzwords you’ll hear when talking about cataract surgery.

Acuity: How sharp your vision is. Astigmatism: A condition in which the front of your eye (the cornea) is not perfectly round. The shape of your cornea can affect the way light focuses in the back of your eye. People with astigmatism may report seeing double vision. CATALYS Precision Laser System: The brand of laser we use to perform laser-assisted cataract surgery. It’s a type of femtosecond laser. You might also hear “femtosecond” shortened to “femto.” Cataract: A natural lens that has become yellowed, clouded, and hardened due to age. The goal of cataract surgery is to replace the cataract with a clean artificial lens to recover vision. Cornea: The clear, dome-shaped window of the front of your eye. It focuses light into your eye. Extended depth of focus intraocular lens: A type of multifocal lens. Your surgeon will discuss multifocal lens options at your cataract consultation. Femtosecond laser: The laser we use to perform laser-assisted cataract surgery. It’s called a femtosecond laser because the length of time the laser pulses is a femtosecond, which is a millionth of a billionth of a second. The type of femtosecond laser we use is called the CATALYS Precision Laser System. You

might also hear “femtosecond” shortened to “femto.”

Floaters: A normal sign of aging. They occur when tiny clumps of vitreous gel float around inside the eye.

Hyperopia: Vision that is blurry up close but clear at a distance. It is sometimes referred to as farsightedness.

Intraocular lens (IOL): The artificial lens that is implanted during cataract surgery. The intraocular lens is the clean and permanent replacement for the cataract, the cloud natural lens.

Intraocular pressure: Eye pressure—also called IOP—is a measurement of the pressure inside the eye. Measuring it is like measuring blood pressure

Iris: The colored part of your eye. It controls the size of your pupil to let light into your eye.

Macula: The macula is a small but important area in the center of the retina. You need the macula to clearly see details of objects in front of you, like faces and written text.

Multifocal intraocular lens: A type of lens that will allow you to see clearly near, at medium range, and far without depending on glasses or contact lenses.

Myopia: A condition in which vision is clear up close but blurry at a distance. It is often referred to as nearsightedness.

Natural lens: The part of your eye behind the iris of your eye. Just like the lens of a camera, light comes in through the lens of your eye and is focused in the back of your eye. If you have cataracts, your natural lens has become clouded, yellowed, and dense, which affects your ability to see clearly.

Ophthalmic: Anything that is related to eyes or eye disease.

Ophthalmologist: A medical doctor (M.D.) and surgeon who specializes in diagnosing and treating eye disorders. Your surgeon is an ophthalmologist. 50

Optic nerve: A nerve at the back of your eye that connects to your brain. The optic nerve sends light signals to your brain so you can see. Optometrist: An eye doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating eye disorders. Phacoemulsification: Using ultrasound during cataract surgery to break up the cataract. Often shortened to “phaco”. Presbyopia: A condition in which your eye loses its ability to shift the focus to objects that are near. Everyone will experience presbyopia. It usually becomes noticeable in your 40s. Pupil: The opening at the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye. Retina: The back of the eye, where images are focused. Your lens sends images to your retina. It is the “film of the camera.” Toric intraocular lens: A type of IOL that corrects astigmatism. Vitreous: A clear, gel-like substance that fills the inside of your eye. YAG: A laser used to make an opening in the capsule holding your artificial lens. This capsule is part of the natural lense and frequently becomes clouded over time after the surgery. This YAG laser “posterior capsulotomy” is a way to clear or restore the vision. Zonule: The structural supports in the eye that hold the lens in place. Some people have weak or loose zonules, which may affect how cataract surgery is performed.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to read this booklet. When it comes to your health, knowledge is power. We hope this guide has helped clear up some of your questions about cataracts and the available treatment options.

Remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve customized vision that suits your lifestyle. Consider what you would use your vision for if it was clear and vibrant. Soon, it will be. We want to make sure you end up with the options that are right for you—your hobbies, your lifestyle, your budget.

We’ll be ready to answer all of your questions at your consultation. We look forward to seeing you!