Vision Glossary

Ablate - To remove by vaporization, melting, evaporation, or erosion.

Astigmastism- A condition in which imperfections in the cornea of the eye cause light to focus imperfectly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) - Astigmatic keratotomy, or AK, can be used to treat astigmatism. During AK surgery, small incisions are used to change the shape of the cornea, making it more spherical. This treatment is rarely used today due to the development of new treatments.

Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty (ALK) - Automated lamellar keratoplasty, or ALK, incorporates use of a microkeratome to resculpt the cornea and produce clearer vision. Unlike the LASIK procedure, a laser is not used during ALK. This treatment is rarely used today due to the advent of more effective procedures.

Cataracts - Cataracts form when protein in the lens begins to clump together and cloud a small area of the eye, resulting in blurry vision.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) - Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is a treatment used for mild and moderate farsightedness and presbyopia. CK is a non-laser technique that uses mild heat energy to reshape the cornea for better vision.

Cornea - The clear tissue of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. The cornea focuses incoming light first, directing it towards the lens.

Custom LASIK - Custom LASIK surgery incorporates the use of wavefront-guided technology to create a three dimensional map of vision impairments. This technology allows the surgeon to remove an exact amount of corneal tissue, tailoring the laser vision correction to individual visual flaws.

Diabetic Retinopathy – Diabetic retinopathy is a degenerative eye disease that occurs in people with diabetes. The condition can lead to severe vision loss or blindness if untreated.

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) - A condition in which the eye does not produce enough tears. Symptoms of DES include itchiness, scratchiness, stinging, and blurred vision.

Epi-LASIK - Epi-LASIK is designed to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism and is similar to LASIK. However, unlike LASIK, Epi-LASIK does not require the creation of a corneal flap.

Excimer Laser - A near-ultra violet laser that does not generate heat. Because they can be used to remove tissue without causing heat damage, excimer lasers have a number of medical applications.

Farsightedness - A condition of the eye in which close-up vision is blurred. Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; closer images do not focus clearly on the retina.

Glaucoma - Glaucoma can occur when the natural fluids of the eye are unable to drain properly, causing a build up of intraocular pressure. Elevated IOP can eventually damage the optic nerve, leading to the development of glaucoma.

Hyperopia - A condition of the eye in which close-up vision is blurred. Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; closer images do not focus clearly on the retina.

Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) - An implantable contact lens can be used to improve the vision of patients suffering from a cataract or presbyopia. Also referred to as a phakic intraocular lens, an ICL replaces the eye's natural lens.

Intacs® - Intacs® inserts are used to treat mild myopia and the eye disease keratoconus. The Intacs® inserts gently reshape the cornea to improve vision without removing corneal tissue.

Intralase® Laser - The Intralase® laser utilizes a computer-guided laser that assists in creating the hinged flap with a beam of light during the LASIK procedure.

Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) - An intraocular lens (IOL) implant can improve vision impaired by the age-related condition presbyopia, clouded by a cataract, or as an alternative to LASIK surgery. During intraocular lens surgery, the natural lens of the eye is replaced by an intraocular lens implant.

Iris - The colored part of the eye; the iris controls the amount of light that passes through the pupil.

Keratoconus - Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that results in thinning corneal tissue, causing the cornea to lose its natural curvature. This leads impaired vision due to the improper focusing of light rays on the retina.

Laser Thermal Keratoplasty (LTK) - Laser thermal keratoplasty, or LTK, can be used to treat both hyperopia and astigmatism. During this procedure, a laser is used to heat up a circular section of the cornea surrounding the pupil, causing the cornea to steepen.

LASEK - LASEK is a variation of LASIK that involves the creation of a thin epithelial flap with an alcohol solution, rather than the thicker corneal flap created with a microkeratome during the LASIK procedure.

LASIK - Stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK is a refractive surgery procedure that involves reshaping the cornea using a laser beam. A flap is cut in the cornea, then the cornea is ablated by a special laser. Once healed, the newly-shaped cornea allows light to focus onto the retina properly, resulting in clearer vision.

Lens - The transparent, double-convex portion of the eye that further focuses light from the cornea onto the retina.

Macular Degeneration - Also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular degeneration is an eye disease that slowly destroys central vision and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.

Microkeratome - A sharp blade that is used to cut the cornea at a predetermined depth to prepare the flap for LASIK eye surgery.

Monovision - Monovision is a procedure that corrects one eye for distance vision, while correcting the other eye for near vision. It is typically used to treat patients suffering from presbyopia.

Myopia - A condition of the eye in which distance vision is blurred. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; distant images do not focus clearly on the retina.

Nearsightedness - A condition of the eye in which distance vision is blurred. Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is caused by faulty light refraction in the eye; distant images do not focus clearly on the retina.

Occipital Lobe - The section of the brain that converts nerve impulses from the eyes into images.

Ophthalmologist - A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating eye and eye-related disorders.

Optic Nerve - The nerve conduit that leads from the retina to the occipital lobe.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) - Also called PRK, Photorefractive Keratectomy is a surgical procedure that involves reshaping the cornea using a laser beam. Unlike LASIK, where a flap is cut in the cornea, PRK involves reshaping the surface of the cornea. Once healed, the shaped cornea allows light to focus onto the retina properly, resulting in clearer vision.

Presbyopia - The natural loss of close-up vision as one gets older. Presbyopia is caused by inflexibility of the eye's lens, a condition that prohibits the eye from focusing properly on objects up-close.

Pupil - The opening in the iris through which light passes. The irises dilate the pupils in the darkness to admit more light and contract them when it is too bright.

Radial Keratotomy (RK) - Also called RK, Radial Keratotomy is a refractive surgery performed to correct myopia (nearsightedness). The surgeon uses a sharp scalpel to make radial cuts in the cornea, which causes the cornea to flatten. This allows light to focus onto the retina properly.

Refractive Surgery - Surgical procedures that are used to change the way light refracts, or bends, as it enters the eye. Using several different procedures, refractive surgeons can enable the eye to focus images on the retina properly. Refractive surgery is usually performed to correct vision problems.

Retina - The back wall of the eyeball; the retina is covered with specialized nerve cells that convert images to electric energy.

Wavefront LASIK - Wavefront-guided LASIK incorporates the use of microsensors and wavelight that allows corneal irregularities to be measured on a 3-D map, This map serves as a blueprint for your eye and recorded aberrations are transferred to the laser that is used to reshape the cornea during LASIK surgery.