Glossary
Amblyopia - Sometimes called "lazy eye;" is the reduction or dimming of vision in an eye that appears to be normal.
Anti Reflective (A-R) Coating - Atype of optical coating applied to the surface of lenses and other optical devices to reduce reflection.
Astigmatism- Impaired eyesight resulting usually from irregular conformation of the cornea; common in
nearsighted people.
Automated Visual Fields - A test in the diagnosis of many eye disorders, especially glaucoma.
Autorefractor - A computer-controlled machine used during an eye examination to provide an objective measurement of a person's refractive error and prescription for glasses or contact lenses.
Bifocal Lenses - Eyeglasses that accommodate two viewing zones, one for seeing objects that are near and one for distance.
Biomicroscope/Slit Lamp - The basic unit to used to examine the eye.
Cataracts - An eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye.
Conjunctiva - A transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid.
Conjunctivitis - An inflammation of the eye's outer membrane, which causes redness, swelling, itching and watering in one or both eyes.
Diabetic Retinopathy - Associated with diabetes and is caused by the breakage of tiny blood vessels in the retina, resulting in hemorrhages on or in the retina.
Dilation - Drops are placed in the eyes before an eye examination to dilate, or widen the pupil so that the Ophthalmologist can look clearly at the back of the eye, the fundus.
Diplopia - Visual impairment in which an object is seen as two objects.
Dry Eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) - Condition due to a deficiency in the production and/or composition of tears by the eye's lacrimal glands.
Fargo Design - G&E GP Specialist Ortho-K contact lens design that is FDA approved.
Farsightedness - A reduced ability to focus on near objects caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens.
Floaters - Spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens.
Glass Lenses - Optical lenses that are made from glass.
Glaucoma - An eye disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision (sometimes progressing to blindness).
High Index- Index is a measurement of how much light is bent by the lens material. The higher the index, the more the light is bent by the lens.
High Index Plastic - Plastic that can be thinner, because they bend more light than glass or normal plastic.
Impact-X - A new bullet-proof, transparent, and light-weight material capable of providing superior protection, reliability and longer lasting performance than polycarbonate.
Intraocular Pressure - Eye pressure, as determined by the amount of aqueous humor filling it.
Keratoconus - Degenerative corneal disease affecting vision. Characterized by generalized thinning and cone-shaped protrusion of the central cornea, usually in both eyes.
Keratometer - An instrument that measures the curvature of the eye's clear, front surface (cornea).
Lensometer - Also known as a focimeter, is an ophthalmic instrument. It is mainly used by optometrists and opticians to verify the correct prescription in a pair of eyeglasses, to properly orient and mark uncut lenses, and to confirm the correct mounting of lenses in spectacle frames.
Macular Degeneration - Eye disease caused by degeneration of the cells of the macula lutea and results in blurred vision; can cause blindness.
Memory Metal - Is an alloy that "remembers" its original, cold-forged shape, and which returns to that shape after being deformed by applying heat.
Mirror Coating - Thin layers of material deposited on an optical component which alters the way in which the optic reflects and transmits light.
Multifocal Lenses - Eyeglass lenses that contain two or more vision-correcting prescriptions.
Myopia Control - The term given to different methods used to influence vision and brain development, or alter the growth of the eye itself, to achieve clear eyesight.
Nearsightedness - Eyesight abnormality resulting from the eye's faulty refractive ability; distant objects appear blurred.
Ocular Hypertension - Intraocular pressure higher than normal in the absence of optic nerve damage or visual field loss.
Ophthalmologist - A medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye.
Ophthalmoscope - Medical instrument for examining the retina of the eye.
Ophthalmoscopy - Examination of the interior of an eye using an ophthalmoscope.
Optician - A licensed health care practitioner who provides lenses for the correction of a refractive error.
Optometric Assistant - Is a position in the optical field with the primary duties are to keep records, act as
receptionists, assist with frame selection, and order prescribed lenses. They may do limited vision testing. Assistants also may provide patients with instructions on the handling of different types of contact and spectacle lenses.
Optometric Technician - Assist in testing patients' vision, providing frame styling services, and instructing patients in contact lens handling. Theyadminister vision therapy programs prescribed by the optometrist.
Optometrist - Doctor of optometry (OD) specializing in vision problems, treating vision conditions with spectacles, contact lenses, low vision aids and vision therapy, and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases.
Orthokeratology - The use of contact lenses to change the shape of the cornea in order to correct refractive error.
Paraoptometric - A person who assists an optometrist.
Phoropter - Device that provides various combinations of lenses used for tests of vision errors in eye examinations.
Plasma Treat - An energetic process utilizing electrical energy to transform the molecular structure of a contact lens surface.
Plastic Lenses - Lenses that are made from plastic instead of glass.
Polarized - A filter that reduces the amount of reflected light that enters the eye.
Polycarbonate Lenses - A lens material that is thinner, lighter, and more impact resistant than standard plastic.
Presbyopia - A reduced ability to focus on near objects caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens.
Refraction - Test to determine an eye's refractive error and the best corrective lenses to be prescribed.
Retinal Detachment - Visual impairment resulting from the retina becoming separated from the choroid in the
back of the eye.
Rimless - Eyewear lacking a rim or frame; "rimless glasses".
Sclera - The whitish fibrous membrane (albuginea) that with the cornea forms the outer covering and protection of the eyeball.
Scratch Resistant - A lens that is treated front and back with a clear, hard coating that is more resistant to scratching.
Single Vision Lenses - Lenses that have the same power throughout the entire lens.
Soperkone - A bicurve contact lens with a fitting philosophy based on sagittal depth.
Strabismus - Abnormal alignment of one or both eyes.
Tints - Mechanical shading in line areas.
Tonometer - Measuring instrument for measuring tension or pressure (especially for measuring intraocular pressure in testing for glaucoma).
Tonometry - The measurement of intraocular pressure by determining the amount of force needed to make a slight indentation in the cornea.
Trifocal Lenses - Lenses that have 3 regions to correct for distance, intermediate (arm's length), and near vision.
Ultraviolet (UV) Coating - Coating systems based on unsaturated polyesters or polyacrylates, or a combination of the two.
Visual Acuity Test - An eye chart test that measures how well you see at various distances.
