Eye Anatomy + Eye Disorders — 81–100

cornea

The clear, anterior portion of the sclera (roots: corne/o, kerat/o)

fovea

The tiny depression in the retina that is the point of sharpest vision; fovea centralis, central fovea

iris

The muscular colored ring between the lens and the cornea; regulates the amount of light that enters the eye by altering the size of the pupil at its center (roots: ir, irid/o, irit/o) (plural: irides [IR-ih-deze])

lacrimal gland

A gland above the eye that produces tears (roots: lacrim/o, dacry/o)

lens

The transparent, biconvex structure in the anterior portion of the eye that refracts light and functions in accommodation (roots: lent/i, phak/o)

macula

A small spot or colored area; used alone to mean the yellowish spot in the retina that contains the fovea

optic disk

The point where the optic nerve joins the retina; at this point, there are no rods or cones; also called the blind spot or optic papilla

orbit

The bony cavity that contains the eyeball

palpebra

An eyelid; a protective fold (upper or lower) that closes over the anterior surface of the eye (roots: palpebr/o, blephar/o) (adjective: palpebral) (plural: palpebrae [pal-PE-bre])

pupil

The opening at the center of the iris (root: pupil/o)

refraction

The bending of light rays as they pass through the eye to focus on a specific point on the retina; also the determination and correction of ocular refractive errors

retina

The innermost, light-sensitive layer of the eye; contains the rods and cones, the specialized receptor cells for vision (root: retin/o)

rod

A specialized cell in the retina that responds to light; rods have low visual acuity, function in dim light, and do not respond to color

sclera

The tough, white, fibrous outermost layer of the eye; the white of the eye (root: scler/o)

uvea

The middle, vascular layer of the eye (root: uve/o); consists of the choroid, ciliary body, and iris

visual acuity

Sharpness of vision

vitreous body

The transparent jelly-like mass that fills the eyeball's main cavity; also called vitreous humor

age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Deterioration of the macula associated with aging; macular degeneration impairs central vision

astigmatism

An error of refraction caused by irregularity in the curvature of the cornea or lens

cataract

Opacity of the lens of the eye

conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva; pink eye