Optometry tech terms

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Notation found on a prescription. It designates how much power the customer will need added to the prescription in order to enable them to read

American Optometry Association

The premier authority in the optometric profession. Together, this authority and its affiliates work to provide the public with quality vision and eye care.

Anti- reflective coating

Reduces reflection allowing 99% of light rays to pass through the lens to the eye. Lenses with this coating have a positive impact on clearer vision

Aspherical lens

While tradition lenses have a front surface that is spherical in shape, these lenses have a more complex front surface containing multiple curves. This helps give thinner edges and better peripheral vision. These lenses are thinner, lighter and reduce both the magnification and minification of the eyes

Astigmatism

A refractive error that prevents light from coming to a single focus on the retina. This means that the eye is not round like a baseball, it is shaped more like a football

Auto Refractor

Uses computer technology to measure the approximate prescription needed for 20/20 vision. It measures how light is changed as it enters the eye

Axis

Tells the optician in degrees where to place the curve in the lens. If a prescription has a cylinder correction, it MUST always have an axis. The axis is represented by an "X" and as it is always in degrees it will be followed by a degree sign "o"

Bench Alignment

The process of adjusting a frame so that all of its components are evenly balanced

Bifocal Lens

This is a lens that has two points of focus. One area of the lens is used to see in the distance; the other is for near vision

Cataract

When the lens of the eye is no longer transparent and begins to block vision. The crystalline lens of the eye, or its capsule, or both, become opaque, with consequent loss of visual activity

Compound lens

This is a combination of a spherical lens with a cylinder

Concave lens

Used to correct myopia. This lens is thinner in the center and thicker near the edges. It is also known as a minus spherical lens

Convex lens

Used to correct hyperopia. It is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. This lens is also known as a plus spherical lens

Cornea

The transparent front of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and anterior chamber

CR39

Better impact resistance than glass, unlimited tint possibilities, and can be scratch resistant. Commonly referred to as plastic

Crystalline Lens

A transparent, colorless body suspended in front of the eyeball, between the iris and the vitreous. Function: to refract rays of light

Dialation

Sometimes, doctors use special eye drops to widen the pupil in order to get a better look at the inside of the eye. w/o this function, only about 45% of the eye can be seen

Diopter

The amount of lens refraction, in terms of convergence or divergence, is measured in units called ______s. Doctors measure these units to the nearest quarter unit, such as 1.25 or 2.75

Duralens

One of the many House Lens brands, and is available in many options. Standard features are: enhanced scratch resistance and UV protection

Edge Polish

A Lens treatment that polishes the edge of a polycarbonate lens, leaving the edge shiny and clear

EyeMed Vision Care

One of the top vision care providers in the nation. What began as a LensCrafters discount program has become one of the largest diversified vision benefits organizations in the country

Eyewire

The part of the eyeglass frame that contains the lens

FeatherWates

One of the many LensCrafters in house Lens brands and is available in many options. These lens are safe, scratch resistant, polycarbonate, thin and light, has UV protection, and are impact resistant.

Flat-Top Bifocal

Most common bifocal design (also called straight top), which features a primary lens for distance viewing, and a smaller half-moon shaped segment used for near vision

Flat-Top Trifocal

Intermediate viewing segment included

Four-Point Test

Test used for verifying frame alignment

Glare

An interference with visual perception caused by an uncomfortably bright light source or reflection

Glaucoma

An ocular disease whose primary characteristic is a sustained increase in intraocular pressure that the eye cannot withstand without damage to its structure or impairment of its function

High index lenses

Higher index of refraction and thinner and lighter than CR-39 lenses. UV filter and scratch resistance built into High Index lenses by manufacturer. They can then absorb harmful UV light and can be tinted to any shade or color

Hinge

A mental connector that allows the temples to open and close a spring hinge may be preferable over a standard. The springs allow the glasses to absorb more impact than regular non-spring hinges. Spring hinges require fewer adjustments and hold their shape longer

Hydrophobic coating

These coating are designed to protect your lenses from water or snow and reduce water spots. Rain and sweat will bead up and roll off the lenses

Hyperopia

This describes the vision of a person who can see clearly in the distance, but has trouble focusing on objects up close (farsightedness)

Duralens

One of the many House Lens brands, and is available in many options. Standard features are: enhanced scratch resistance and UV protection

Hypoallergenic

This has to do with a product having a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic reaction

Hypoallergenic

The colored part of the eye visible to others. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye by changing the size of the pupil

Keratometer

Checks the front curvature of the corneas surface. It is often used to measure and diagnose conditions such as astigmatism, corneal scarring, and corneal distortion

Lens (of the eye)

The part inside the eye that looks like a small clear ball. This lens is responsible for the work of accommodation

Mirror Coating

A mirror coating can be applied in many colors, such as black, silver, gold or blue. The mirror color is seen only from the outside, while the tint color is seen by the wearer from the inside

Multifocal

A lens essentially a combination of the other lenses to enable a customer to see when they have multiple vision problems. It is a lens with more than one focal point. Example: bifocal which allows the wearer to focus light at two different distances

Myopia

Used to describe the vision of a person who can see well up close, but has trouble seeing objects in the distance (nearsightedness)

No-Line Bifocal

Another term for a progressive lens: a lens with no lines that provides help with all three vision ranges, offering a continuous range of correction from near to far

Oakley True Digital

One of the many LensCrafters in house Lens brands, and is available with many options. They contain optimizing tints, dual peripheral technology, that gives you crisp acuity and clearer periphery in high-wrap prescriptions

"OC" Optical Center Measurement

Determines where to place the Optical Center of the lens and is down for single vision lenses

O.D.

Stands for Oculus Dexter-meaning; "right eye". Also used as an abbreviation for "Doctor of Optometry"

O.S.

Stands for Oculus Sinister, meaning "left eye"

O.U.

Stands for Oculus Uterque, meaning "both eyes"

Ophthalmoscope

The ophthalmoscope is a non-invasive, hand held instrument, which the doctor uses to view the entire dilated eye. It uses a bright light to illuminate and magnify the eye's interior, helping the doctor discover cataracts, retinal problems, and even damaged blood vessels, etc.

Optic nerve

The second cranial nerve that forms a link in the visual pathway- if

Edge Polish

A Lens treatment that polishes the edge of a polycarbonate lens, leaving the edge shiny and clear

EyeMed Vision Care

One of the top vision care providers in the nation. What began as a LensCrafters discount program has become one of the largest diversified vision benefits organizations in the country

Eyewire

The part of the eyeglass frame that contains the lens

FeatherWates

One of the many LensCrafters in house Lens brands and is available in many options. These lens are safe, scratch resistant, polycarbonate, thin and light, has UV protection, and are impact resistant.

Flat-Top Bifocal

Most common bifocal design (also called straight top), which features a primary lens for distance viewing, and a smaller half-moon shaped segment used for near vision

Flat-Top Trifocal

Intermediate viewing segment included

Four-Point Test

Test used for verifying frame alignment

Glare

An interference with visual perception caused by an uncomfortably bright light source or reflection

Glaucoma

An ocular disease whose primary characteristic is a sustained increase in intraocular pressure that the eye cannot withstand without damage to its structure or impairment of its function

High index lenses

Higher index of refraction and thinner and lighter than CR-39 lenses. UV filter and scratch resistance built into High Index lenses by manufacturer. They can then absorb harmful UV light and can be tinted to any shade or color

Hinge

A mental connector that allows the temples to open and close a spring hinge may be preferable over a standard. The springs allow the glasses to absorb more impact than regular non-spring hinges. Spring hinges require fewer adjustments and hold their shape longer

Hydrophobic coating

These coating are designed to protect your lenses from water or snow and reduce water spots. Rain and sweat will bead up and roll off the lenses

Hyperopia

This describes the vision of a person who can see clearly in the distance, but has trouble focusing on objects up close (farsightedness)

Hypoallergenic

This has to do with a product having a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic reaction

Hypoallergenic

The colored part of the eye visible to others. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye by changing the size of the pupil

Keratometer

Checks the front curvature of the corneas surface. It is often used to measure and diagnose conditions such as astigmatism, corneal scarring, and corneal distortion

Lens (of the eye)

The part inside the eye that looks like a small clear ball. This lens is responsible for the work of accommodation

Mirror Coating

A mirror coating can be applied in many colors, such as black, silver, gold or blue. The mirror color is seen only from the outside, while the tint color is seen by the wearer from the inside

Multifocal

A lens essentially a combination of the other lenses to enable a customer to see when they have multiple vision problems. It is a lens with more than one focal point. Example: bifocal which allows the wearer to focus light at two different distances

Myopia

Used to describe the vision of a person who can see well up close, but has trouble seeing objects in the distance (nearsightedness)

No-Line Bifocal

Another term for a progressive lens: a lens with no lines that provides help with all three vision ranges, offering a continuous range of correction from near to far

Oakley True Digital

One of the many LensCrafters in house Lens brands, and is available with many options. They contain optimizing tints, dual peripheral technology, that gives you crisp acuity and clearer periphery in high-wrap prescriptions

"OC" Optical Center Measurement

Determines where to place the Optical Center of the lens and is down for single vision lenses

O.D.

Stands for Oculus Dexter-meaning; "right eye". Also used as an abbreviation for "Doctor of Optometry"

O.S.

Stands for Oculus Sinister, meaning "left eye"

O.U.

Stands for Oculus Uterque, meaning "both eyes"

Ophthalmoscope

The ophthalmoscope is a non-invasive, hand held instrument, which the doctor uses to view the entire dilated eye. It uses a bright light to illuminate and magnify the eye's interior, helping the doctor discover cataracts, retinal problems, and even damaged blood vessels, etc.

Optic nerve

The second cranial nerve that forms a link in the visual pathway- if

Optic nerve

The second cranial nerve that forms a link in the visual pathway - it carries impulses from the retina to the brain

Optical center

The area of the eyeglass lens that allows light to pass straight through without bending

Optometrist

This is an eye care provider who is qualified to perform eye examinations for the purpose of writing eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions. This person is also able