Special Senses: The Eyes and the Ears

blephar/o

eyelid

-cusis

hearing

irid/o

iris, colored part of eye

kerat/o

horny, hard, cornea

myring/o

tympanic membrane, eardrum

ophthalm/o

eye, vision

acoust/o

hearing, sound

audi/o, audit/o

hearing

conjunctiv/o

conjunctiva

corne/o

cornea

dipl/o

double

labyrinth/o

labyrinth (inner ear)

ocul/o

eye

-opia

vision condition

opt/o

eye, vision

ot/o

ear, hearing

phak/o

lens of the eye

presby/o

old age

retin/o

retina, net

scler/o

sclera, white of eye, hard

trop/o

turn, change

tympan/o

tympanic membrane, eardrum

adnexa

appendages or accessory structures of an organ

amblyopia

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

ametropia

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 of the eye that causes a progressive loss of visual clarity

chalazion

a nodule or cyst, usually on the upper eyelid, caused by obstruction in a sebaceous gland

cochlear implant

an electronic device that bypasses the damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve

conjunctivitis

inflammation of the conjunctiva

dacryoadenitis

an inflammation of the lacrimal gland that can be caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection

diplopia

the perception of two images of a single object

ectropion

outward turning of the rim of the 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

inward turning of the rim of the eyelid

esotropia

inward turning of the eye; cross-eyed

exotropia

outward turning of the eye

fluorescein angiography

a radiographic study of the blood vessels in the retina of the eye following the intravenous injection of a fluorescein dye as a contrast medium

glaucoma

a group of eye diseases characterized by increased intraocular pressure

hemianopia

blindness in one-half of the visual field

hordeolum

a pus-filled and often painful lesion on the eyelid resulting from an infection in a sebaceous gland; stye

hyperopia

a vision defect in which light rays focus beyond the retina; also known as farsightedness

infectious myringitis

a contagious inflammation that causes painful blisters on the eardrum

iridectomy

the surgical removal of a portion of the tissue of the iris

iritis

inflammation of the uvea primarily affecting structures in the front of the eye

keratitis

inflammation of the cornea

labyrinthectomy

the surgical removal of all or a portion of the labyrinth of the inner ear

laser trabeculoplasty

treatment of open-angle glaucoma in which a laser is used to create an opening in the trabecular meshwork to allow fluid to drain properly

mastoidectomy

the surgical removal of mastoid cells

mydriasis

dilation of the pupil

myopia

a vision defect in which light rays focus in front of the retina; also known as nearsightedness

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

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

nystagmus

involuntary, jerking movements of the eyes

ophthalmoscopy

the visual examination of the fundus (back part) of the eye with an ophthalmoscope; also known as funduscopy

optometrist

a specialist who holds a Doctor of Optometry degree and provides primary eye care

otitis media

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

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

papilledema

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

excessive sensitivity to light

presbycusis

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

presbyopia

decline of near vision that occurs with age as the lens becomes less flexible and the muscles of the ciliary body become weaker

ptosis

drooping of the upper eyelid, usually caused by paralysis

radial keratotomy

a surgical procedure to treat myopia

retinopexy

treatment to reattach the detached area in a retinal detachment

scleritis

inflammation of the sclera of the eye

sensorineural hearing loss

deafness that develops when the auditory nerve or hair cells in the inner ear are damaged

stapedectomy

the surgical removal of part of the stapes bone and its replacement with a small prosthetic device

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

tinnitus

ringing or buzzing in the 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 the loss of balance, that is often combined with nausea and vomiting

vitrectomy

the removal of the vitreous fluid of the posterior chamber of the eye and its replacement with a clear solution

xerophthalmia

dry eyes

adenexa of the eyes

structures outside the eyeball

pinna

external part of the ear

orbit

eye socket; bony cavity of the skull that contains and protects the eyeball and itsassociated muscles, blood vessels, and nerves

binocular vision

occurs when the muscles of both eyes work together in coordination to make normal depth perception possible

canthus

angle where the upper and lower eyelids meet

cilia

small hairs that make up the eyebrows and eyelashes

tarsus

the framework within the upper and lower eyelids that provides the necessary stiffness and shape

conjunctiva

the transparent mucous membrane that lines the underside of each eyelid and continues to form a protective covering over the exposed surface of the eyeball

lacrimal apparatus

the structures that produce, store, and remove tears

lacrimal glands

produce tears

lacrimal fluid

tears

lacrimal canal

consists of a duct at the inner corner of each eye

lacrimal sac

an enlargement of the upper portion of the lacrimal duct

lacrimal duct

the passageway that drains excess tears into the nose

optic

pertaining to the eye or sight

ocular

pertaining to the eye

extraocular

outside the eyeball

intraocular

within the eyeball