astigmatism
distorted vision caused by an oblong or cylindrical curvature of the lens or cornea that prevents light rays from coming to a single focus on the retina (stigma = point)
refractive errors
defects in the bending of light as it enters the eye, causing an improper focus on the retina
hyperopia
farsightedness
myopia
nearsightedness
presbyopia
impaired vision caused by old age or loss of acommodation
accommodation
ability of the eye to adjust focus on near objects
amblyopia
lazy eye (ambly/o = dim)
aphakia
absence of the lens, usually after cataract extraction
blepharitis
inflammation of the eyelid
blepharochalasis; dermatochalasis
baggy eyelid; overabundance and loss of skin elasticity on the upper eyelid causing a fold of skin to hang down over the edge of the eyelid when the eyes are open (chalasis = a slackening)
blepharoptosis; ptosis
drooping of the eyelid; usually caused by paralysis
chalazion
chronic nodular inflammation of the meibomian gland, usually the result of a blocked duct; commonly presents as a swelling on the upper and lower eyelid (chalaza = hailstone)
cataract
opaque clouding of the lens causing decreased vision
conjunctivitis
pinkeye; inflammation of the conjunctiva
dacryoadenitis
inflammation of the lacrimal gland
dacryocystitis
inflammation of the tear sac
diabetic retinopathy
disease of the retina in diabetics characterized by capillary leakage, bleeding, and new vessel formation (neovascularization) leaading to scarring and loss of vision
ectropion
outward turning of the rim of the eyelid (tropo = turning)
entropion
inward turning of the rim of the eyelid
epiphora
abnormal overflow of tears caused by blockage of the lacrimal duct (epi = upon; phero = bear)
glaucoma
group of diseases of the eye characterized by increased intraocular pressure that results in damage to the optic nerve, producing defects in vision
hordeolum
sty; an acute infection of a sebaceous gland of the eyelid (hordeum = barley)
iritis
inflammation of the iris
keratitis
inflammation of the cornea
macular degeneration
breakdown or thinning of the tissues in the macula, resulting in partial or complete loss of central vision
pseudophakia
an eye in which the natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens implant
pterygium
fibrous, wing-shaped growth of conjunctival tissue that extends onto the cornea, developing most commonly from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light
retinal detachment
separation of the retina from the underlying epithelium, disrupting vision and resulting in blindness if not repaired surgically
retinitis
inflammation of the retina
strabismus; heterotropia
a condition of eye misalignment caused by intraocular muscle imbalance (strabismus = a squinting; hetero = other)
esotropia
right or left eye deviates inward, toward nose (eso = inward; tropo = turning)
exotropia
right or left eye deviates outward, away from the nose (eso = inward; tropo = turning)
scleritis
inflammation of the sclera
trichiasis
misdirection eyelashes that rub on the conjunctiva or cornea