Eyecare Glossary

AKA Lazy Eye. A disorder where one eye sees better than the other and the weaker eye drifts inward or outward, this commonly appears in childhood.

An anti-reflection coating, also known as an AR coating, is a thin film applied to eyeglass lenses to reduce reflections and improve visual clarity. It helps to minimize glare caused by light bouncing off the lens surfaces, which can interfere with vision and cause discomfort. The coating enhances the transmission of light through the lenses, making them appear almost invisible and allowing more light to reach the wearer's eyes for better visual acuity.

This is the watery fluid in front of the eyeball that is clear and contains glucose and other nutrients. It gives the eye its shape and nourishes the cornea and lens.

A common and minor problem where light isn't focused evenly on the retina causes blurry vision at all distances. The terms "toric" or "astigmatism" are frequently used in the names of contact lenses designed for people with astigmatism.

Bifocals are eyeglass lenses that consist of two distinct lens powers in a single lens. They are typically used to correct presbyopia and have a visible line separating the distance prescription in the upper part of the lens from the near prescription in the lower part. Bifocals allow wearers to have clear vision for both distance and near tasks without needing to switch between multiple pairs of glasses. More about Bifocals...

An inflammatory condition affecting the edge of the eyelids. Symptoms include red, inflamed eye lids and crusting around the eyelashes. More about Blepharitis...

This condition causes the internal lens of the eye to become clouded with this disorder, causing vision to become blurry. More about Cataracts...

A fairly common condition and is caused by a blockage in one of the small glands in the lid. More about Chalazion...

These cells, also known as cones, are located in the retina and are in control of colour vision and eye sensitivity.

A clear, thin translucent barrier of tissue that covers a portion of the front surface of the eye and the inner layer of the eyelids.

AKA Pinkeye. Conjunctival swelling and infection are common signs of viruses, bacterial infections, and allergies. More about Conjunctivitis...

The transparent, dome-shaped front portion of the eye that aids in light focusing so you can see properly.

AKA Double Vision. A disorder where you experience seeing two images of the same item, frequently brought on by illnesses, prior trauma, or a stroke.

Insufficient tear production in the eyes can result in a frequent ailment that makes your eyes seem red and feel painful. This condition is known to be caused by ageing and medical issues. More about Dry Eye...

Flashes appear as many tiny bright lights or like flashes of lightening. These flashes usually last for only a second or so, but typically occur repeatedly. More about Flashes...

Floaters appear as grey or black specs, lines, in your vision. They are caused by clumps in the vitreous jelly of the eye casting a shadow onto the retina. More about Floaters...

The central region of the macula, which is required for tasks requiring attention to visual detail, like reading or driving.

The name for a group of eye conditions at which the optic nerve is damaged at the point where it leaves the eye. More about Glaucoma...

AKA Farsighted. A typical refractive defect that makes close items appear more blurry and distant objects clearer when your eyeball is shorter than normal or your cornea is curled too little.

This is the coloured region of the eye that surrounds the pupil and regulates how much light enters the eye.

The retina's centre region, which gives humans the ability to recognise small details.

The delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working, and there are many different conditions, which can cause this. When it occurs later in life, it is called the ‘ age-related macular degeneration’. More about Macula Degeneration...

AKA Nearsighted. A frequent eyesight issue where objects close to you can be seen clearly while objects in the distance appear blurry, which is caused by an improperly shaped eyeball or cornea. More about Myopia in Children...

OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique used in optometry to capture high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina and other ocular structures. It employs light waves to create detailed images of the eye's internal structures, similar to ultrasound but using light instead of sound. OCT is particularly useful in diagnosing and monitoring eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, as it provides valuable information about the thickness and integrity of various eye tissues. More about OCT scans...

A disc on the retina that serves as the optic nerve's entry point. It is also known as the blind spot since it is devoid of sight receptors.

A collection of nerve fibres that carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Photochromic lenses, also called transition lenses, are eyeglass lenses that darken in response to UV light exposure. They contain special molecules that undergo a chemical reaction when exposed to UV radiation, causing the lenses to darken. This darkening provides protection against bright sunlight and reduces the intensity of glare. When the UV light diminishes, such as when indoors, the lenses gradually return to their clear state.

A form of long-sightedness brought on by ageing and the lens of the eye losing its flexibility, which often happens in middle and elderly life. The terms "multifocal," "progressive," "bifocal," or "presbyopia" are frequently used to describe contact lenses used to correct presbyopia.

The iris's central opening, through which light can enter to the rear of the eye.

Red eye is a common problem, usually caused by an allergy or infection, but may also be a sign of conjunctivitis or another eye condition. More about Red Eye...

A problem with the eyes that develops as the retina starts to move away from the blood veins that provide it with oxygen. Diabetes and trauma are frequent causes, and urgent surgical correction is required.

Single vision lenses have a uniform lens power throughout the entire lens and are used to correct a specific vision problem. They can be prescribed for either nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism. Single vision lenses provide clear vision at a fixed distance, either for distance vision (for activities like driving or watching TV) or near vision (for tasks like reading or using a computer). More about our different spectacles enses here...

A sub-conjunctival haemorrhage occurs when tiny blood vessels in the eye leak, causing a small amount of blood to gather between the sclera and conjunctiva. More about Sub-Conjunctival Haemorrhage...

AKA Progressive lenses or Multifocal Lenses, varifocals are eyeglass lenses designed to correct presbyopia by providing clear vision at different distances. Varifocals have a smooth transition of lens power from distance vision at the top to intermediate vision in the middle and near vision at the bottom, allowing wearers to see clearly at various distances without switching glasses. More about Varifocals...

The vitreous is a jelly like material that fills most of the space inside the eye. As we age, the vitreous often liquefies and may collapse. This is more likely to occur, and occurs much earlier, in the eyes that are nearsighted (myopia). It can also occur after injuries to the eye or inflammation in the eye.