Ablate
To remove.
Ablation zone
The section of tissue to be removed during laser surgery.
Accommodation
The ability of the eye to change its focus from near objects to distant objects.
Acuity
Sharpness of vision.
Astigmatism
Irregularities in the cornea that causes a distortion of the image on the retina
Cornea
The Cornea is the transparent, front section of the eye and is the portion of the eye that refracts the light and provides the main focusing power.
Diopter
The refractive error measurement. A positive diopter value means an eye with hyperopi whereas negative diopter value means an eye with myopia.
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry Eye occurs when the eyes do not produce enough moisture to keep the eye comfortable. Common symptoms of dry eye include scratchiness, and intermittent blurring of vision, stinging, burning and sometime acute pain.
Endothelium
The layer of cells on the inner surface of the cornea.
Epithelium
The eye's first defense against infection as it is the outer layer of cells of the cornea.
Excimer laser
An ultraviolet laser used in refractive surgery to disolve corneal tissue.
Farsightedness
Another more common term for hyperopia.
Ghost Image
A duplicate image of the object you are viewing.
Glare
Bright light that decreases vision.
Halos
Rings that appear to surround lights because of optical imperfections in or in front of your eye.
Haze
Clouding in the cornea that causes the impression of seeing through fog.
Higher order aberrations
Refractive distortions, other than, hyperopia, myopia or astigmatism, that can not be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
Hyperopia
The need for optical assistance to see distant objects in clear focus and to see near objects as clearly as distant objects.
Informed Consent Form
A Document Disclosing The Benefits As Well As The The Risks And Alternatives To A Procedure.
In Situ
A latin word meaning "in place" or not removed.
Iris
The colored ring of tissue in front of the eye lens and suspended behind the cornea.
Keratectomy
Surgical removal of corneal tissue.
Keratotomy
Surgical incision (cutting) of the cornea.
Keratitis
Inflammation of the cornea.
Kerato
A prefix indicating in relation to to the cornea.
Keratoconusv A disorder where the eye has irregular corneal surface resulting in blurred and distorted vision.
Keratomileusis
Carving of the cornea to reshape it.
Laser
An instrument that produces a powerful beam of light that can vaporize cell tissue. (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation).
LASIK
Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. Meaning to creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and then use of a laser machine to reshape the underlying cornea.
Lens
The lens is that portion of the eye able to change shape allowing the eye to focus at different distances.
Microkeratome
A surgical device which becomes affixed to the eye using a vacuum suction ring.A sharp blade then cuts a layer of the cornea at a set depth.
Monovision
Adjustment of one eye for for distance vision and one eye for near vision.
Myopia
When you are unable to focus on distant objects as clearly as close objects.
Nearsightedness
Another term for myopia.
Ophthalmologist
A specialist in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of visual disorders and eye disease.
Optician
A technician involved in making and fitting glasses and/or contact lenses.
Optometrist
Diagnoses, manages, and treats disorders and diseases of the eyes.
Overcorrection
A situation where the achieved amount of vision correction is more than planned
PRK
PhotoRefractive Keratectomy, a procedure for the removal of the epithelium using a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the stroma.
Presbyopia
Reduced elasticity of the lens, usually with increasing age, which causes an inability to maintain a clear focus as objects move closer.
Pupil
The hole in the center of the iris that resizes in response to changing light strength, getting smaller in brighter lights.
Radial Keratotomy
A surgical procedure designed to correct myopia by flattening the cornea using radial cuts.
Refraction
The bending of light as it passes through the eye.
Refractive Errors
Problems with the focusing power of the eye, such as, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
Refractive Power
The ability of the eye, to bend light as it through.
Retina
A layer of tissue that lines the inside wall of the eye which captures images, transforms them into electrical signals, and sends the signal to the brain.
Sclera
The white, outer layer of the eyeball protects the eyeball.
Stroma
The middle, thicker layer of tissue in the cornea.
Undercorrection
An error of refractive surgery where the amount of correction is less than expected.
Visual Acuity
The clearness of vision; the ability to distinguish sharpness in details and shapes.
Vitreous Humor
The clear substance that fills the center of the eyeball.
Wavefront
A measure of the total refractive errors of the eye, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and other refractive errors that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.