MedTerm.Ch.12--SpecialSenses

adnexa

the accessory or adjoining anatomical parts of an organ.

amblyopia

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

metropia

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 eye does not focus properly because of uneven curvatures of the cornea.

audiometry

the use of an audiometer to measure hearing acuity.

cataract

the loss of transparency of the lens that causes a progressive loss of visual clarity.

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

also known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva that is usually caused by a viral infection, allergy, or irritants.

dacryoadenitis

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

diplopia

also known as double vision, is 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 (ET)

also known as cross-eyes, is strabismus characterized by an inward deviation of one or both eyes.

exotropia

also known as walleye, is strabismus characterized by the outward deviation of one eye relative to the other.

fluorescein angiography (FA)

is 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

also known as a stye, is a pus-filled and often painful lesion on the eyelid resulting from an infection in a sebaceous gland.

hyperopia

also known as farsightedness, is a defect in which light rays focus beyond the retina.

infectious myringitis

a contagious inflammation that causes painful blisters on the eardrum.

iritis

most common form of uveitis.

keratitis

an inflammation of the cornea.

labyrinthectomy

the surgical removal of all or a portion of the labyrinth.

laser iridotomy

uses a focused beam of light to create a hole in the iris of the eye.

laser trabeculoplasty

is used to treat open-angle glaucoma by creating openings in the trabecular meshwork to allow the fluid to drain properly.

mastoidectomy

the surgical removal of part of the mastoid process.

mydriasis

the dilation of the pupil, is the opposite of miosis.

myopia

also known as nearsightedness, is a defect in which light rays focus in front of the retina.

myringotomy

a small 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

also known as night blindness, is a condition in which an individual with normal daytime vision has difficulty seeing at night.

nystagmus

an involuntary, constant, rhythmic movement of the eyeball that can be congenital or caused by a neurological injury or drug use.

ophthalmoscopy

also known as a funduscopy, is the use of an ophthalmoscope to visually examine the fundus (back part) of the eye.

optometrist

holds a doctor of optometry degree and provides primary eye care, including diagnosing eye diseases and conditions, and measures vision to determine whether corrective lenses are needed.

otitis media

an 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

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

papilledema

also known as a choked disk, is 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

means excessive sensitivity to light and can be the result of migraines, excessive wearing of contact lenses, drug use, or inflammation.

pneumatic retinopexy

a surgery in which a gas bubble is injected into the vitreous cavity to put pressure on the detached area in a retinal detachment while it heals.

presbycusis

a gradual loss of sensorineural hearing that occurs as the body ages.

presbyopia

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

ptosis

the drooping of the upper eyelid that is usually due to muscle weakness or paralysis. The term blepharoptosis has the same meaning.

radial keratotomy (RK)

is a surgical procedure to treat myopia.

scleritis

an inflammation of the sclera.

sensorineural hearing loss

also known as nerve deafness, develops when the auditory nerve or hair cells in the inner ear are damaged.

stapedectomy

the surgical removal of the stapes bone and the insertion of a small prosthetic device to conduct 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 to protect the eye when the lids are paralyzed and unable to close normally, or to help corneal lesions heal.

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 loss of balance that is often combined with nausea and vomiting.

vitrectomy

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

xerophthalmia

also known as dry eye, is drying of eye surfaces, including the conjunctiva, because the tear glands do not produce enough tears.