Key Terms
- accommodation
- ability of the lens to change shape when looking alternatively at a near object and far object
- aqueous humor
- fluid typically produced in the posterior chamber of the eye, which nourishes the internal structures and maintains a homeostatic eye pressure
- astigmatism
- when the cornea or lens is curved more steeply in one direction, causing light to focus on multiple points of the retina
- canaloplasty
- eye surgery that uses a microcatheter to cannulate Schlemm’s canal in order to restore aqueous humor outflow to lower intraocular pressure
- cataracts
- cloudy areas on the lens of the eye from the breakdown of proteins that affect vision
- cones
- receptors on the retina for daytime and color vision
- conjunctival hyperemia
- excess of blood in the eye’s vessels, causing redness
- conjunctivitis
- infection and inflammation of the conjunctiva, causing redness and irritation; also referred to as “pink eye”
- external ocular structures
- structures outside the eye responsible for protecting the eye and allowing the eye to rotate and move up and down
- glaucoma
- group of diseases caused by obstruction or excess production of aqueous humor, resulting in loss of peripheral vision
- hyperopia
- a condition in which light refracts behind the retina, resulting in close objects appearing blurry and far objects being clearly seen; also known as farsightedness
- internal ocular structures
- structures inside the eye responsible for light accommodation, eye color, fluid to support eye pressure homeostasis, and the optic nerve
- macular degeneration
- degeneration of the central portion of the retina, causing gradual loss of central vision
- myopia
- a condition in which light refracts in front of the retina, resulting in far objects appearing blurry and near objects being clearly seen; also known as nearsightedness
- photophobia
- abnormal sensitivity to light
- presbyopia
- a condition that occurs as one ages; the lens thickens and becomes less elastic, which makes it difficult for the eyes to accommodate
- refractive errors
- when light does not shine directly on the retina, causing distorted vision
- rods
- receptors on the retina for nighttime vison
- trabeculectomy
- eye surgery that creates a bypass of obstructed aqueous fluid in the trabecular network to prevent further loss of vision in glaucoma