ARCHDALE EYECARE GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Common Terms used at Archdale Eyecare #7: Doctors Refraction Add (or add power): If there is a value under the 'add' heading, then you
have a bifocal (or Progressive) prescription.
Astigmatism: Astigmatism is one of a group of eye conditions known as
refractive errors. Refractive errors cause a disturbance in the way that
light rays are focused within the eye. Astigmatism often occurs with
nearsightedness and farsightedness, conditions also resulting from
refractive errors. Astigmatism is not a disease nor does it mean that you
have "bad eyes." It simply means that you have a variation or disturbance
in the shape of your cornea.
What causes astigmatism?
Astigmatism usually occurs when the front surface of the eye, the cornea,
has an irregular curvature. Normally the cornea is smooth and equally
curved in all directions and light entering the cornea is focused equally
on all planes, or in all directions. In astigmatism, the front surface of
the cornea is curved more in one direction than in the other. This
abnormality may result in vision that is much like looking into a
distorted, wavy mirror. The distortion results because of an inability of
the eye to focus light rays to a point.
If the corneal surface has a high degree of variation in its curvature,
light refraction may be impaired to the degree that corrective lenses are
needed to help focus light rays better. At any time, only a small
proportion of the rays are focused and the remainders are not, so that the
image formed is always blurred. Usually, astigmatism causes blurred vision
at all distances. Some people with very high degrees of astigmatism may
have cornea problems such as keratoconus.
Astigmatism is very common. Some experts believe that almost everyone has a
degree of astigmatism, often from birth, which may remain the same
throughout life. The exact reason for differences in corneal shape remains
unknown, but the tendency to develop astigmatism is inherited. For that
reason, some people are more prone to develop astigmatism than others.
Axis: As mentioned above, a special cylindrical lens is needed in order to
correct astigmatism. Not only does the strength of the cylindrical lens
need to be specified, but the lens itself must be rotated into a specific
position in order to provide the proper vision correction. The axis
represents the amount of rotation of the cylindrical lens in degrees
ranging from 1 to 180.
BP: Blood Pressure Cylinder: If there is no value under the cylinder heading, then you have a
very simple prescription. If there is a value under this heading, then you
have astigmatism. The majority of optometrists write the cylinder value
with a minus sign in front while the majority of ophthalmologists
(physicians who specialize in the eye) write the cylinder value with a plus
sign in front. Regardless of which way this is written, your glasses will
be made the exact same way -- these are just two different ways to write
the same spectacle prescription. Like sphere power, the cylinder power is
also measured in diopters.
DFE: Dilation
Diopter : A unit of measurement of the optical power of lenses. For
example; if a person has a prescription of -4.00, that person has 4
diopters of power in their lens. Diopters generally are measured in quarter
steps like -4.00, -4.25, -4.50. Some doctors refine their measurements down
to twelfth steps like -4.00, -4.12, -4.62. Diopters are also used to
measure prism.
Disposable: A disposable contact lens
DV: Distance Vision
Evaluation: An evaluation is a term used for a contact lens exam or a
health evaluation.
Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness is usually inherited. Children are
often hyperopic which may lessen as an adult. Hyperopia is a refractive
error, which results from a disorder rather than from disease. A refractive
error means that the shape of your eye does not bend light correctly,
resulting in a blurred image.
ICD-9 Code: Billing Diagnosis Code IOP: The pressure inside your eye, which is called intraocular pressure. K Reading: Keratometer Measurements / This is done by the Technicians with
the Auto Refractor Macular Degeneration: is a degenerative disease that robs young and old of
central vision. As a result, children face a lifetime of uncertainty and
elders risk the early loss of an independent life. In addition to the
support of long-term efforts in the fields of Stem Cell and Genetic
research for an ultimate cure, we are particularly interested in promising
near-term, scientific studies designed to inhibit the progression of
macular degeneration and restore a measurable amount of vision to all.
MR: Refraction Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness is inherited and is often discovered
in childhood. Myopia is a refractive error, which results from a disorder
rather than from disease. A refractive error means that the shape of your
eye does not bend light correctly, resulting in a blurred image.
Myopia often progresses throughout the teenage years, when the body is
growing rapidly. People with high myopia have a higher risk of detached
retina, which can be repaired with surgery, and glaucoma.
O. D.: O. D. simply means 'right eye'. It is the short form of the Latin
term 'oculus dexterous'.
: O. S. simply means -- you guessed it -- 'left eye'. It is the short form
of the Latin term 'oculus sinister'.
Ocular: Ocular is anything of or relating to the eye.
Officemate Code: Code that is assigned to a particular service that is
entered into the officemate software / When code is entered it must "grey"
up to make sure that accurate fee is charged. NV: Near Vision
Pachymeter: Is an instrument that measures the thickness of the cornea.
This is only done once in a patients life time. It is done normally
following the glaucoma work up.
Presbyopia: Inability of the eye lens to focus incoming light, resulting in
blurred vision at a reading distance and eyestrain. Most people develop
presbyopia in their 40s.
Prism: This is a box on the prescription form that is rarely filled in.
Occasionally, when the two eyes are not properly aligned and looking
directly at the same thing, prism can be ground into the lenses in order to
re-align them. This can occur with strabismus (i.e. - an eye turn) or in
situations where the eyes are properly aligned but are under a tremendous
amount of strain in order to keep them aligned.
Progressive lenses: (also, progressive addition lenses or PALs) Multifocal
lenses whose corrective powers change progressively throughout the lens. A
wearer looks through one portion of the lens for distance vision, another
for intermediate vision, and a third portion for reading or close work.
Each area is blended invisibly into the next, without the lines that
traditional bifocals or trifocals have.
Pupilary Distance (PD): The distance between the center of your pupils is
known as the pupilary distance, this is measured. Before your prescription
lenses are cut into the shape of your frame, the pupilary distance needs to
be measured. This measurement is then used so that the optical center of
each lens can be lined up with your pupils in order to give optimal visual
clarity. In general, PD measurements fall in the range of 48mm to 73mm. The
most common measurements are between 58mm and 68mm.
RGP: Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lens
RTC: Return to Care
Sphere: The number under the heading 'sphere' is the main part of your
prescription. The number itself denotes the strength of the lens as
measured in diopters. A diopter is a unit of measurement that is simply the
inverse of the focal distance of the lens as measured in meters. For
example, if a lens has a strength of 2 diopters, then parallel light rays
that pass through this lens will focus together at a distance of 1/2 meter
(50 cm) away from the lens. If you are near-sighted (i.e. - you have
trouble seeing far away but can see fine up close), then you can make a
rough calculation of the strength of your glasses.
SRX: Spectacle Lens Prescription
Synergeyes: Rigid Gas Permeable Contact lens with a soft skirt. TQ : Tylers Quarterly Soft Contact Lens Parameter Guide (Updated version
comes every quarter) Tonometry: A tonometry test measures the pressure inside your eye, which is
called intraocular pressure. The TONO tip is removed and soaked after every
patient to ensure proper sanitation. Toric: A type contact lens that is fit for astigmatism. VA: Visual Acuity [pic] General Optometric Terms
20/20 -the expression for normal eyesight (or 6/6 in countries where metric
measurements are used). This notation is expressed as a fraction. The
numerator (1st number) refers to the distance you were from the test chart,
which is usually 20 feet (6 meters). The denominator (2nd number) denotes
the distance at which a person with normal eyesight could read the line
with the smallest letters that you could correctly read. For example, if
your visual acuity is 20/100 that means that the line you correctly read at
20 feet could be read by a person with normal vision at 100 feet. The
Snellen chart, which consists of letters, numbers, or symbols, is used to
test visual acuity (sharpness of eyesight). A refraction test is used to
determine the amount of correction needed for a prescription when treating
refractive error such as astigmatism, myopia, or hyperopia. See "Refraction
Test".
ABOC Certification: What is certification? You can't buy it; you have to
earn it. Certification is professional distinction - official and public
recognition of your achievement that you have met a national set of
standards as a qualified and competent optician or contact lens technician.
Certification is official assurance to the public that you will handle
their eye wear needs competently and carefully; certification is recognized
by employers as a standard of competence.
AC/A Ratio- accommodative convergence / accommodative (measured in prism
diopters/diopters). The convergence response of an individual (amount the
eyes turn inward) in relation