Vocab Flashcards
Abberation
Deviation from a single focus of light rays emanating from one source
Accommodation
The ability of the eye to adjust focus for varying distances
Achromatic
Descriptive of a lens capable of refracting light without creating a rainbow effect
Acuity
Visual expression of sharpness of vision (20/20)
Addition
Difference in plus power between the reading and distance portions of a multifocal lens
Amblyopia
Loss of vision without any apparent disease of the eye
Ametropia
A refractive error in which the eye, when in a state of rest, does not focus the image of an object upon the retina (hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism)
Anisekeikonia
A condition in which the image of an object as seen by one eye differs so much in size or shape from that seen by the other eye that the two images cannot be fused into a single impression
Anisometropia
A condition in which the refraction error of one eye significantly differs from that of the other
Anterior Chamber
Front cavity or compartment of the eye, located between the cornea and the crystalline lens. Contains the aqueous humor
Apex
Thinnest edge of a prism
Aphakia
An absence of the crystalline lens of the eye
Pseudophakia
Having a false lens
Aspheric
Not spherical; a lens surface having a number of curves with different radii
Axis
The meridian of no cylinder power in a spherocylinder lens
Base
Thickest edge of a prism
Base curve
The curve used as a base of a series of powers; the degree of curvature of the front surface of a lens
Beam
A group of parallel rays of light
Binocular
Pertaining to vision with both eyes
Caliper
Instrument used to measure thickness, calibrated in fifths and tenths of a millimeter
Canthus
The angle at either end of the slit between the eyelids
Cataract
A condition when the crystalline lens of the eye becomes opaque
Choroid
Vascular (blood-rich) layer of the eye; its function is to nourish the other parts of the eye, primarily the retina
Chromatic Abberation
Distortion of an optical image produced by the dispersion of light passing through a lens and generally characterized by blurred, multicolored edges
Ciliary body
The thick rim of choroid to which the crystalline lens is attached
Compound hyperopic astigmatism
The refractive error that results in two points of focus falling in front of the retina
Cones
Light sensitive cells in the retina responsible for color vision, daytime vision, and the central portion of the visual field
Conjunctiva
The clear membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eyeball
Conjunctivitis
Inflammation of the conjunctiva (“pink eye”)
Cornea
The refractive, transparent, anterior wall of the eye, equal to 43 diopters
The Five Layers of the Cornea
Epithelium
Bowman’s Membrane
Stroma
Descemet’s Membrane
Endothelium
Crown Glass
Pure silicate glass of general excellence for the spectacle lens; index of refraction is 1.523
Crystalline Lens
A transparent, colorless body suspended in the front part of the eyeball, between the aqueous humor and the vitreous humor. It’s function is to bring light rays to a focus on the retina
Cycloplegia
Paralysis of the ciliary body; drops used for diagnostic purposes
Decentration
Distance between the optical center placement of a lens and its geometric center; expressed in mmD
Diffusion
The scattering of light
Diopter
Unit of measurement of the refractive power of a lens. A lens whose focal length is one meter has a power of one diopter. The higher the dioptric power, the shorter the focal length
Diplopia
The seeing of one object as two, due to uneven tracking of the eyes (double vision)