Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears (Vocab)

Adnexa

The accessory or adjoining, anatomical parts of an organ.

Amblyopia

Dimness of vision or the partial loss of sight, especially in one eye, without detectable disease of the eye.

Ametropia

Any error of refraction in which images do not focus properly on the retina.

Anisocoria

A condition in which the pupils are unequal in size.

Astigmatism

A condition in which the eyes does not focus properly because of uneven curvatures of the cornea.

Audiometry

The use of an audiometer to measure hearing activity.

Cataract

The loss of transparency of the lens of the eye.

Chalazion

A nodule or cyst, usually on the upper eyelid, caused by obstruction of a sebaceous gland.

Cochlear Implant

An electronic device that bypasses the damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva, usually caused by an infection or allergy.

Dacryoadenitis

An inflammation of the lacrimal gland caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.

Diplopia

The perception of two images of a single object.

Ectropion

The eversion of the edge of an eyelid.

Emmetropia

The normal relationship between the refractive power of the eye and the shape of the eye that enables light rays to focus correctly on the retina.

Entropion

The inversion of the edge of an eyelid.

Esotropia

Strabismus characterized by an inward deviation of one or both eyes.

Exotropia

Strabismus characterized by the outward deviation of one eye relative to the other.

Fluorescein Angiography

A photographic study of the blood vessels in the back of the eye following the intravenous injection of a fluorescein dye as a contrast medium.

Glaucoma

A group of diseases characterized by increased intraocular pressure that causes damage to the retinal nerve fibers and the optic nerve.

Hemianopia

Blindness in one half of the visual field.

Hordeolum

A pus-filled lesion on the eyelid resulting from an infection in a sebaceous gland.

Hyperopia

A vision defect in which light rays focus beyond the retina; also known as farsightedness.

Infectious Myringitis

A contagious inflammation that causes painful blisters on the eardrum.

Iritis

Inflammation of the uvea primarily affecting structures in the front of the eye.

Keratitis

Inflammation of the cornea.

Labyrinthectomy

Surgical removal of all or a portion of the labyrinth of the ear.

Laser Iridotomy

A procedure using a focused beam of light to create a hole in the iris of the eye.

Laser Trabeculoplasty

Treatment of open-angle glaucoma by creating openings in the trabecular meshwork to allow fluid to drain properly.

Mastoidectomy

Surgical removal of part of the mastoid process.

Mydriasis

The dilation of the pupil.

Myopia

A defect in which light rays focus in front of the retina; also known as nearsightedness.

Myringotomy

A surgical incision in the eardrum to relieve pressure from excess pus or fluid or to create an opening for the placement of ear tubes.

Nyctalopia

A condition in which an individual with normal daytime vision has difficulty seeing at night.

Nystagmus

An involuntary, constant, rhythmic movement of the eyeball.

Ophthalmoscopy

The visual examination of the fundus of the eye with ophthalmoscope.

Optometrist

A specialist who provides primary eye care, including diagnosing eye diseases and conditions, and measuring the accuracy of vision.

Otitis Media

Inflammation of the middle ear.

Otomycosis

A fungal infection of the external auditory canal.

Otopyorrhea

The flow of pus from the ear.

Otorrhea

Any discharge from the ear.

Otosclerosis

Ankylosis of the bones of the middle ear resulting in a conductive hearing loss.

Papilledema

Swelling and inflammation of the optic nerve at the point of entrance into the eye through the optic disk.

Periorbital Edema

Swelling of the tissues surrounding the eye or eyes.

Photophobia

Excessive sensitivity to light.

Pneumatic Retinopexy

Surgery to reattach the detached area in a retinal detachment using a gas bubble to hold pressure on the retina.

Presbycusis

A gradual sensorineural hearing loss that occurs as the body ages.

Presbyopia

Condition of common changes in the eyes that occur with aging.

Ptosis

Drooping of the upper eyelid that is usually due to paralysis.

Radial Keratotomy

A surgical procedure to treat myopia.

Scleritis

Inflammation of the sclera of the eye.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that develops when the auditory nerve or hair cells in the inner ear are damaged.

Stapedectomy

Surgical removal of the stapes bone and the insertion of a prosthetic device that conducts sound vibrations to the inner ear.

Strabismus

A disorder in which the eyes point in different directions or are not aligned correctly because the eye muscles are unable to focus together.

Tarsorrhaphy

The partial or complete suturing together of the upper and lower eyelids.

Tinnitus

A condition of ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound in one or both ears.

Tonometry

The measurement of intraocular pressure.

Tympanometry

The use of air pressure in the ear canal to test for disorders of the middle ear.

Vertigo

A sense of whirling, dizziness, and the loss of balance, often combined with nausea and vomiting.

Vitrectomy

The removal of the vitreous humor in the eye and its replacement with a saline solution.

Xerophthalmia

Drying of eye surfaces, including the conjunctiva.