Optical TidbitsSome Optical Terms You May Find Useful Astigmatism: a refractive abnormality caused by unequal refraction of light in different meridians, resulting in a distorted and blurred image. Diplopia: a condition in which a single object is perceived as two. Also called "double vision." Glaucoma: abnormally increased interocular pressure resulting in optic nerve damage and loss of visual field. Hyperopia: farsightedness, long-sighted. Myopia: nearsightedness, short-sighted. Photophobia: sensitivity to light. Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK): a surgical procedure using a laser to remove corneal tissue and alter the refractive error. Scotoma: blind spot. Retina: the posterior lining of the globe or eyeball that uses rods and cones to convert light signals for transmission to the brain. Radial Keratotomy: RK is a surgical procedure using a scalpel to create incisions into the epithelium of the cornea. These incisions result in a flattening and altering of the refractive error. Tonometry: a procedure for measurement of interocular pressure, one of the tests for glaucoma. Visual Acuity: the clearness of vision that depends upon the sharpness of the retinal image. Courtesy of Hobson Cox, Affordable Eyewear; Montgomery.
Published June 1999, Alabama Prime Times |
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