Optometric Terms

Anterior

toward the front

Posterior

toward the back

Superior

Toward the head or above

Inferior

toward the feet or below

Medial

toward the midline

lateral

away from the midline

ipsilateral

same side of the body

contralateral

opposite sides of the body

bilateral

both sides

unilateral

one side only

proximal

closer to the origin or trunk

distal

further from the origin or trunk

superficial

near the surface

deep

further beneath the surface

Rostral

toward the nose or front of the brain

Caudal

toward the back of the brain

Dorsal

toward the top of brain or the back

ventral

toward the bottom of the brain or front/stomach

Orbit

bony socket housing the eye

Palpebrae

eyelids, protect and lubricate the eye

conjunctiva

mucous membrane covering sclera and inner lids

cornea

transparent anterior surface light enter glode, gives major refractive power to eye

limbus

junction between cornea and sclera

sclera

opaque outer coat (white of the eye)

anterior chamber

space between the cornea and iris

vitreous humor

gel filling the posterior cavity of the globe

aqueous humor

fluid in the anterior chamber, contributes to intraocular pressure

posterior cavity

space between lens and retina, contains vitreous humor

iris

colored part of the eye; controls pupil size

pupil

opening on the iris, aperture for light entry

ciliary body

produces aqueous humor and controls accommodation

accommodation

the eye’s ability to adjust its focus to see objects clearly at different distances (not an ocular structure just a function of the eye)

Zonules

suspensory ligament attached to the lens extends the ciliary body

lens

adjustable refractive structure behind the iris; important in accommodation

retina

neural tissue detecting light; inside back of eye

macula

central retina for detailed vision

fovea

highest acuity point on retina

optic nerve head/ optic disc

exit of retinal nerve fibers from globe going toward brain

CN I

Olfactory nerve; smell

CN II

Optic nerve, vision

CN III

Oculomotor nerve; eye movements and pupil contraction

CN IV

Trochlear nerve; superior oblique muscle for eye movement

CN V

Trigeminal nerve; facial sensation and mastication

CN V1

ophthalmic, globe and periorbital sensation

CN V2

maxillary, cheek sensation

CN V3

mandibular, jaw area sensation and chewing

CN VI

abducens nerve, lateral rectus muscle for eye movement

CN VII

Facial nerve; facial expression, lacrimation, and taste

CN VIII

vestibulocochlear; hearing and balance

CN IX

Glossopharyngeal, taste and swallowing

CN X

Vagus nerve; unconscious body functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing

CN XI

Accessory nerve, shoulder and neck muscles

CN XII

Hypoglossal nerve, tongue movement

medial rectus

adductions; eye movements toward the nose

lateral rectus

abduction, eye movements toward the ear

superior rectus

elevation, eyes move up

inferior rectus

depression, eyes move down

superior oblique

intorsion; eye rotates in toward the nose and depression/down

inferior oblique

extorsion, eye rotates out toward the ear and elevation/up

Vergence

movement of the eye in relation to each otherr

convergence

inward eye movement

divergence

outward eye movement

supravergence

upward eye movement

infravergence

downward eye movement

optic nerve (VP)

retinal fibers exit eye and travel into cranium

optic chiasm (VP)

where nasal retinal fibers cross

optic tract (VP)

visual pathway between chiasm and Lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

Visual cortex (VP)

in the occipital lobe of brain; where visual information is processed

Visual pathway (VP)

made of neurons which carry visual information from the eye, back through the brain, to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe

Etiology

cause of disease

pathogenesis

disease mechanism

lesion

abnormal tissue

inflammation

protective response

edema

fluid swelling

hypoxia

low oxygen

ischemia

reduced blood flow

atrophy

tissue shrinkage

acute

sudden/recent onset of pathology

chronic

long-term (>4 months) pathology

hyperplasia

increased cell number

homeostasis

internal balance

negative feedback

stabilizing loop

positive feedback

amplifying loop

diffusion

passive movement

active transport

requires ATP

Facilitated diffusion

passive with carrier

osmosis

water movement

membrane potential

electric gradient

action potential

neural signal

OD

right eye

OS

left eye

OU

both eyes

VA

visual acuity

BCVA

best corrected visual acuity

C

with

CC

with glasses

S

without

SC

without glasses

IOP

intraocular pressure

DFE

dilated fundus exam