Grace Eye Glossary

Choroid

Found between the retina and sclera. Gives the retina nourishment and blood supply Retinas are considered detached when they are not connected to the choroid (Corn, Holbrook, Cleveland Clinic).

Ciliary Muscle

Helps the lens change its refractive power. This muscle (by contracting) is what allows the lens to actually become more or less spherical (Corn) 

Conjunctiva

Clear and covers parts of the eyelid and sclera. Protects the eyeball and plays a part in making tears (Corn, Holbrook and Cleveland Clinic)

Cornea

A transparent part of the eye, made up of 5 layers, that is able to bend light of the retina and can focus on images (Corn). This is what is affected by Brooklyn’s Keratoconus. 

Eyelids and eyelash

Protects eye from the outside by preventing them from getting into the eye (dust, allergens). Eyelids also have glands that help to produce tears (Holbrook and Corn). 

Iris

Part of the eye that dilates, which allows it to dictate how much light makes it to the rest of the eye (Corn).

Lacrimal Apparatus

A system that makes tears. The lacrimal gland is what makes the tears. The conjunctiva and meibomian glands also help to make tears (Cleveland Clinic and Corn)

Lens

Can change refractive power so the retina can receive a clearer image. It changes shape (more or less spherical) in order to better see the object it is focusing on (Corn).

Limbus

Where the cornea and retina meet. Where the blue part of my eye and white part of my eye meet. (Corn, Review of Optometry)

Macula

A small part of the retina. There is a lot of cones (receptors in the retina that allows us to see color and details well) present, so it allows us to see lots of details- such as reading text (Corn and Cleveland Clinic) 

Ophthalmologist

A doctor of the eyes that is able to do surgery and prescribe medicine. My mom sees an Ophthalmologist when she goes to the doctor. (Corn, The American Academy of Ophthalmology) 

Optic Disc

Where fibers (part of a nerve) of the retina become the optic nerve. There are no cones (receptors in the retina that allows us to see color and details well) or disks (respectors that cause you to notice motion and light). Because of the lack of cones or disks this causes our blind spot. (Corn) 

Optic Nerve

Takes the electric energy the retina makes and sends it to the brain It consists of thousands of fibers (Corn and Holbrook)

Optician

Someone who can help you pick out eyeglasses. An optometrist must be the person who determines the prescription. The person that I see at the end of an eye doctor appointment helps as I pick out frames and adjust the frames (Cleveland Clinic).

Optometrist

Gives you your prescription for glasses. Can not perform surgery. The person I see when I go to the eye doctor. (Corn, The American Academy of Ophthalmology) 

Orbit

Place that holds the eye and is made up of 7 bones. It helps to protect the eyes. I would call this the “eye socket” (Holbrook). 

Retina

Send the signals of what you are seeing to the optic nerve and then the brain. Before it sends information to the brain it must change light into electrical signals. (Holbrook and Corn) Mom gets surgery to prevent her retina from detaching.

Sclera

The outer layer of the eyeball. Protects the inner eye. It gives the eye its shape (Holbrook and Corn).

Tears

Keep your eyes from drying out and protect your eyes from outside objects that should not be in there (allergens). Tears are made from water, oil and mucus. (Cleveland Clinic and Corn)

Vitreous Cavity

Jelly, clear substance between your lens and retina. Eighty percent of the global (by volume) in the vitreous cavity. It helps give the eyeball its shape (Corn)