WELCOME TO THE EYE 2 EYE OPTICAL GLOSSARY
We designed this section of our site to help you find the answers to your questions and to help convey the importance of having a regular eye examinations. Having an eye test isn't just about wearing spectacles or contact lenses, it is also about checking the health of your eyes and your for own personal reassurance and peace of mind.
We hope to enable you better understand the remarkable mechanism that is the human eye.If you suffer from an eye condition or if you simply wear spectales to help correct your vision, then this glossary can help you better understand your eyes.
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THE A-Z GLOSSARY A B C D E F G H L M N O P R S T U V (Search)
REMEMBER YOUR EYESIGHT IS TO IMPORTANT TO TAKE FOR GRANTED
| A LAZY EYE, USUALLY A HEALTHY EYE WHICH HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION DUE TO AN UNTREATED MUSCLE IMBALANCE IN THE EYE OR AN UNCORRECTED IMBALANCE OF THE TWO EYES. SEE ALSO SQUINTS | |
| GENERAL WORD MEANING NON STANDARD VISION | |
| UNEQUAL REFRACTIVE POWER BETWEEN THE TWO EYES | |
| THIS IS A COATING DESIGNED TO REDUCE IN GLARE AND REFLECTIONS FROM THE BACK OF YOUR LENSES. | |
| THIS IS A FORM OF THIN AND FLAT LENS IDEAL FOR PEOPLE WITH HIGH PRESCRIPTIONS. | |
| MEANS THE BLURRING OF VISION CAUSED BY THE IRREGULAR CURVATURE OF THE CORNEA OR CRYSTALINE LENS | |
ASTHENOPIA |
MEANS EYESTRAIN OR TIRED EYES |
AQUEOUS FLUID
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THE NATURAL FLUID IN THE FRONT CHAMBER OF THE EYE |
| TWO LENSES COMBINED INTO ONE LENS AREA TO GIVE TWO DIFFERENT FOCAL LENGTHS, USUALLY DISTANCE AND READING |
| A CLOUDING OF THE CRYSTALINE LENS, USUALLY FOUND AS PATIENTS GET OLDER BUT CAN RESULT FOLLOWING ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO THE EYE. CATARACTS CAN BE REMOVED BY OPERATION AND REPLACEMENT PLASTIC LENSES IMPLANTED WITHIN THE EYE TO RESTORE CLEAR VISION. | |
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COLOUR BLINDESS IS THE LACK OF PERCEPTION OF CERTAIN COLOURS, (CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR COLOUR BLINDNESS TEST) |
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CONCAVE
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AN OPTICAL LENS FORM HAVING BOTH LENS SURFACES CURVED INWARDS |
| CONTACT LENSES ARE A MODERN ALTERNATIVE TO WEARING SPECTACLES | |
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CONVEX
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AN OPTICAL LENS FORM HAVING BOTH LENS SURFACES CURVED OUTWARDS |
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CONJUNCTIVITIS
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IS AN IRRITATION OF THE CONJUNCTIVA |
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CONJUNCTIVA
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THE MUCUS MEMBRANE COVERING THE INSIDE LINING OF THE EYELIDS AND EXTENDING IN A CONTINUOS SKIN TO COVER THE WHITE OF THE EYE |
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CORNEA
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THE TRANSPARENT LENS AT THE FRONT OF THE EYE |
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CRYSTALLINE
LENS
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THE INNER LENS OF THE EYE WHICH IS CONVEX IN SHAPE AND DUE TO THE SUSPENSORY MUSCLES ABILITY TO ALTER THE CURVATURE OF THIS LENS ENABLES THE LENS TO FOCUS ON DISTANT AND NEAR OBJECTS |
| CYLINDRICAL LENSES (REFERED TO AS CYLS IN THE INDUSTRY AND ON YOUR PRESCRIPTION ARE USED TO CORRECT ASTIGMATISM |
| A CONDITION WHICH CAN HAVE MANY REPROCUSSIONS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR EYESIGHT. IF YOU ARE DIABETIC READ THIS. | |
| THE UNIT OF MEASUREMENT FOR THE POWER OF A LENS | |
DIPLOPIA
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A TERM MEANING DOUBLE VISION. CAN BE A SIGN OF VARIOUS SERIOUS CONDITIONS AND URGENT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE SHOULD BE SOUGHT IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, ESPECIALLY IF THE OCCURRENCE COINCIDES WITH AN ACCIDENT |
| 'D' TYPE BIFOCALS ARE THE MOST COMMONLY PRESCRIPED FORM OF BIFOCAL. THEY HAVE A READING SEGMENT ON THEM WHICH LOOKKS LIKE THE LETTER 'D', WHICH HAS BEEN TURNED ON TO IT'S CURVED SIDE. |
| A FORM OF SQUINT (SEE ALSO AMBLYOPIA) | |
EMMETROPIA
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IS A TERM THAT ACTUALLY DESCRIBES NORMAL VISION (ie.20/20 or the metric version 6/6 vision), THE EMMETROPIC EYE IS THE NORMAL EYE. IF YOU ARE EMMETROPIC YOU ARE VERY LUCKY!!! |
'E' STYLE BIFOCAL
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'E' STYLE BIFOCAL (SOMETIMES REFERED TO AS EXECUCTIVE OR EXEC BIFOCALS), ARE A FORM OF BIFOCAL WITH A READING SEGMENT WHICH EXTENDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF A BIFOCAL LENS. |
| A CONDITION USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH FLOATERS. THE PATIENT SEES FLASHING LIGHTS IN THEIRWITHIN VISION | |
| FLOATERS AND FLASHING LIGHTS ARE A COMMON COMPLAINT, WE EXPLAIN THE CAUSE | |
FOCAL LENGTH
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IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN AN OBJECT AND THE EYE, WHEN YOU HAVE A SIGHT TEST THE FOCAL LENGTH BETWEEN YOU AND THE SIGHT CHART FOR EXAMPLE IS SET AT A VERY PRECISE DISTANCE. |
FRAMES
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GETTING THE RIGHT SPECTACLE FRAME FOR YOU CAN BE A VERY TRICKY BUSINESS, SO WE ARE SETTING UP A GUIDE TO HELP YOU : COMING SOON |
| A GENERAL TERM FOR VARIOUS CONDITIONS WITHIN THE EYE GENERALLY CAUSED BY AN INCREASE IN THE TENSION WITHIN THE EYE. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER DRAINAGE SYSTEM. ACUTE GLAUCOMA CAN IN SOME CASES OCCUR QUITE SUDDENLY AND IS USUALLY VERY PAINFUL AND URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A HOSPITAL IS ESSENTIAL. HOWEVER IN MOST CASES THE ONSET OF THE DISEASE IS QUITE GRADUAL AND CAN BE DETECTED BY REGULAR EYE EXAMINATIONS AND CAN BE TREATED VERY SUCCESSFULLY IF DETECTED EARLY ENOUGH | |
| A LENS MATERIAL WHICH IS RARELY PRESRIBED THESE DAYS, BUT WHICH IS VERY SCRATCH RESISTANT |
HEAMORRAGE
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IS THE BREAKAGE OF A MINOR BLOOD VESSEL WHICH CAN SOMETIMES BE SEEN IN THE WHITE OF THE EYE. THEY ARE GENERALLY NOT SERIOUS AND CAN CLEAR IN A FEW DAYS. HOWEVER AN INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE WITHIN THE EYE OR ON THE RETINA CAN BE QUITE SERIOUS |
| HIGH INDEX GLASS IS A MATERIAL USED FOR PRODUCING THINNER HIGH PRESCRIPTION LENSES | |
| IS THE TERM USED TO DEFINE LONGSIGHTEDNESS OR A DIFFICULTY IN FOCUSING ON NEAR OBJECTS |
| THIS IS WITHOUT DOUBT A VERY COPLICATED SUBJECT, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE SET UP THIS GUIDE TO YOUR PRESCRIPTION. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE PRESCRIPTION WE HAVE GIVEN YOU, SO HERE IS THE EXPLAINATION | |
LENTICULAR
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IS A FORM OF A LENS USED IN CERTAIN HIGH POWER LENSES TO REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF THE EDGE OF THE LENS. |
| MEANS SHORT SIGHT USUALLY AS A RESULT OF THE FOCAL LENGTH OF THE EYEBALL BEING LONGER THAN THE AVERAGE. SHORTSIGHTED PEOPLE CAN SEE WELL AT CLOSE DISTANCES BUT NEED CORRECTIVE LENSES TO SEE CLEARLY IN THE DISTANCE |
| SEE MYOPIA (above) |
| A TERM DECRIBING A MUSCLE IMBALANCE BEHIND THE EYE | |
OPTHALMIC
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A TERM DESCRIBING SOMETHING OPTICAL, OR OF OPTICAL PERFECTION |
OPTICIAN
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A PRACTITIONER IN OPTICS. WHAT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO BE AN OPTICIAN. COMING SOON |
OPTOMETRISTS
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A PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED PERSON REGISTERED TO TEST EYES AND CONDUCT OTHER EXAMINATIONS TO DETECT EYE DISEASES AND CONDITIONS AND QUALIFIED TO ISSUE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR LENSES TO CORRECT ABNORMAL VISION. |
| PHOTO CHROMIC LENSES THESE LENSES REACT TO LIGHT DUE TO A SPECIAL CHEMICAL WITHIN THE LENS WHICH DARKEN WHEN EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT. THE DEPTH OF DARKENING DEPENDS UPON THE AMOUNT OF ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE WHICH THE LENS IS EXPOSED TO. | |
| PLASTIC (KNOWN IN THE TRADE AS CR39) IS THE MOST COMMONLY PRESCRIBED LENS MATERIAL | |
PLANO LENS
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IS A LENS WHICH TECHNICALLY HAS NO REFRACTIVE POWER BECAUSE THE FRONT AND BACK SURFACE OF THE LENS ARE OF EQUAL CURVATURE |
| IS THE TERM USED TO DEFINE MIDDLE AGE SIGHT WHEN THE MUSCLES OF THE INNER EYE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ALTER THE REFRACTIVE POWER OF THE CRYSTALINE LENS SUFFICIENTLY TO FOCUS ON CLOSE OBJECTS. | |
| IS A LENS WHICH HAS A PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING POWER RANGE BETWEEN THE TOP AREA OF THE LENS FOR THE DISTANCE AND THE LOWER AREA OF THE LENS FOR CLOSE WORK. |
| A REATOLITE IS A TYPE OF PHOTOCHROMIC OR LIGHT REATIVE LENS | |
| IS THE SHEET OF DELICATE TISSUE WHICH LINES THE BACK OF THE INNER SURFACE AREA OF THE EYE AND RECEIVES THE VISUAL STIMULUS FROM THE LIGHT RAYS ENTERING THE EYE. THESE LIGHT RAYS ARE TRANSMITTED TO THE BRAIN BY WAY OF THE OPTIC NERVE WHICH IN TURN PASSES THESE IMPULSE SIGNALS ONWARDS TO THE BRAIN WHICH THEN READS THE SIGNALS AND CONVERTS THE IMPULSES INTO WHAT WE TERM AS SIGHT. | |
RETINAL DETACHMENT
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IS WHEN THE DELICATE RETINA BECOMES DETACHED FROM THE INNER LAYERS OF THE EYE SURFACE. THE RESULTS OF RETINAL DETACHMENT IS USUALLY THAT BLIND SPOTS BECOME EVIDENT OR UNUSUAL FLASHES OF LIGHT CAN BE SEEN. A DETACHED RETINA CAN IS MANY CASES BE REPAIRED IF PROFESSIONAL HELP IS SOUGHT QUICKLY ENOUGH. |
| IS THE MEDICAL TERM FOR RETINAL ILLNESSES (SEE ALSO DIABETIC RETINOPATHY |
SCLERA
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IS THE WHITE OF THE EYE FORMING A PROTECTIVE LAYER FOR THE DELICATE AREAS OF THE EYE. |
| OR STRABISMUS IS A COMMON CONDITION MAINLY EFFECTING YOUNG CHILDREN WHEN THE TWO EYES HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER. A SQUINT CAN WHEN DETECTED EARLY ENOUGH CAN BE CORRECTED BY EYE EXERCISES OR BY WEARING CORRECTIVE LENSES TO CORRECT THE MUSCLE IMBALANCE. IN EXTREME CASES SURGERY MAY BE REQUIRED. EARLY DETECTION IS THE KEY TO GOOD RESULTS. | |
| SEE ABOVE (SQUINT) |
| ARE LENSES WHICH INCORPORATE THREE DIFFERENT FOCAL AREAS WITHIN THE LENS. THE TOP FOR DISTANCE, THE MIDDLE FOR INTERMEDIATE VISION AND THE BOTTOM AREA FOR CLOSE VISION | |
| SEE SQUINT, AMBLYOPIA | |
| A PLASTIC PHOTO CHROMIC LENS WHICH DARKENS WHEN EXPOSED TO LIGHT IN A SIMILAR WAY TO REACTOLIGHT LENSES |
| A COMMON CONDITION, CAUSING LOW TOLERENCE TO LIGHT AND ALSO BLURRED VISION. CAN ALSO CAUSE SORENESS - MAKE AN APPOINTMENT URGENTLY WITH AN OPTICIAN IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM THESE SYMPTOMS |
| SEE PROGRESSIVE LENSES` | |
| THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WORKING WITH COMPUTER SCREENS (IF YOU WORK USING A SCREEN YOU SHOULD READ THIS) | |
VITREOUS FLUID
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IS THE TRANSPARENT FLUID WHICH FILLS THE INNER CHAMBER OF THE EYE BEHIND THE CRYSTALLINE LINE LENS, IT HELPS TO KEEP THE EYE IN SHAPE AND MAINTAIN AN EVEN PRESSURE WITHIN THE EYE. |
