LASIK Eye Surgery Glossary
Here is a simple glossary that is a list of common terms that are used in the field of LASIK eye surgery.
Ablation - The removal of eye tissue to correct a refractive error such as myopia.
Anterior Chamber - The part of the eye behind the cornea and in front of the iris and lens.
Aqueous Humor – This is the fluid in the front of the eye, between the cornea and the iris, that provides nutrients to the cornea and the lens
Astigmatism - Condition in which the cornea's curvature is asymmetrical so that light rays are focused at two points on the retina rather than one, resulting in blurred or distorted vision.
CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) - A procedure where radio waves are employed to heat collagen in the cornea's periphery to shrink it and reduce farsightedness.
Contrast Sensitivity - The capability of the eye to detect the line of demarcation between an object and its background or an adjacent object.
Cornea - The part of the eye covering the iris and pupil that lets light into the eye.
Corneal Implants -These are rings or lenses that are placed in the eye, usually to correct vision.
Diopter - A unit which measures the refractive (light-bending) power of a lens. Eye care practitioners use it in eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions. A negative number refers to nearsightedness, while a positive number refers to farsightedness.
Dry Eye - A condition where there is a lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture in the eye.
Endophthalmitis - An inflammation of the interior of the eye, typically caused by an infection from eye surgery or trauma that is considered an emergency.
Epithelial Ingrowth - A LASIK complication in which epithelial cells grow under the LASIK flap. ; Epithelial ingrowth does not usually affect vision.
Flap and Zap - Slang for LASIK eye surgery.
Hyperopia - Also called farsightedness, this is the medical term for being unable to see objects far away.
Hypotony - This is intraocular pressure, often caused by eye surgery or trauma. Symptoms include blurred vision and eye pain or discomfort.
iris - This is the pigmented membrane that lies between the cornea and the lens; that it acts as a diaphragm to widen or narrow the opening called the pupil
Keratitis - Inflammation of the cornea, caused by an infection or inflammatory process.
LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) - This procedure is similar to LASIK, except that the surgeon cuts a flap in the epithelium only. LASEK is used mostly for people with thin or flat corneas.
Macula - The part of the eye near the middle of the retina that allows us to see objects with great detail.
Microkeratome - A small instrument that surgeons use to cut the cornea.
Monovision - This is a vision correction method for those with presbyopia in which one eye is corrected for near vision and the other for far vision, either through contact lenses or refractive surgery.
Myopia - Also known as nearsightedness, it is the term for not being able to see objects that are far away.
Neuroretinitis - Inflammation of the optic nerve and retina, commonly caused by an infection. Symptoms include blurred vision, headache, floaters, and loss of color vision.
Ophthalmologist - a medical doctor (M.D.) who specializes in the eye. Ophthalmologists perform eye exams, treat disease, prescribe medication, and perform surgery. They may also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Optical Coherence Tomography - An imaging system that, in ophthalmology, uses light waves to provide cross-sectional views of interior eye structures.
Presbyopia - Condition in which the aging eye, beginning at around age 40, is unable to focus at all distances, often noticed when print begins to blur.
Pupil - The round, black center of the eye, which opens and closes to regulate the amount of light the retina receives.
Refractive Surgery - this refers to procedures such as LASIK eye surgery that correct refractive errors of the eye, with the objective of reducing or eliminating the need for glasses and contacts.
Retina - The membrane that lines the eye that receives images formed by the lens and converting them into signals that are sent to the brain by the optic nerves where they are perceived as images.
Sclera - The outer coat of the eyeball that forms the visible white of the eye and surrounds the optic nerve at the back of the eyeball.
Stroma - The cornea's middle layer; it consists of lamellae (collagen) and cells, and makes up most of the cornea.
20/20 Vision - This is the average visual acuity for human beings as measured by the Snellen chart, but humans can see as well as 20/15 or even 20/10. People with 20/40 vision can see clearly at 20 feet what people with 20/20 vision can see clearly at 40 feet.
20/40 Vision - The lowest uncorrected acuity required for a driver's license.
Vitreous Body - Part of the eye between the lens and the retina, containing a clear jelly called the vitreous humor.
Wavefront - Describes technology used to "map" how the eye processes images, enabling correction through surgery or lenses for obscure vision errors.
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