Ophthalmic Terms (Pocket Dictionary)
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A-B • C • D-E • F-J • K-L • M-N • O • P • R-S • T-Δ
A-B| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| A/C or AC | anterior chamber | Anterior chamber | |
| A1% | atropine 1% | Dilators (red top); Drops/Meds | |
| ACC | anterior cortical changes/cataract | Lens: Diagnoses/findings | |
| ACG | angle closure glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| ACIOL | anterior chamber intraocular lens | Lens | |
| Add | amount of plus reading power (for bifocal/progressives) | Refraction | |
| AION | anterior ischemic optic neuropathy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| ALT | argon laser trabeculoplasty | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| AMD/ARMD | age-related macular degeneration | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| APD, RAPD | afferent papillary defect, relative afferent papillary defect APD by reverse testing/consensual response |
External | |
| ARx | autorefraction | Refraction | |
| AT, PFAT | artificial tears, preservative-free artificial tears | Drops/Meds | |
| AV | anterior vitreous | ||
| AVx | anterior vitrectomy | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| Ax | axis [+/- number sphere] + [number cylinder] x [0-180 axis] |
Refraction | |
| BCVA | best corrected visual acuity | Exam | |
| BDR | background diabetic retinopathy | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| BK | band keratopathy | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings |
|
| BRAO | branch retinal artery occlusion |
Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| BRVO | branch retinal vein occlusion | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
C
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| C/D | cup/disc ratio | Fundus exam | |
| C/F | cell/flare (graded 1+ to 4+) | Anterior chamber | |
| C/S | conjunctiva/sclera | Slit lamp exam | |
| C1 | Cyclogyl (cyclopentolate) 1% | Dilators (red top); Drops/Meds | |
| CB | ciliary body | Anatomy | |
| CBB | ciliary body band | Gonioscopy | |
| cc | with refractive correction | Exam | |
| CCT/Pachy | central corneal thickness/ pachymetry | ||
| CE | cataract extraction | ||
| CF @ XX ft | counts fingers (specify distance) | Exam | |
| CL/SCL/HCL | contact lens/soft .…/Hard .… | Other | |
| CM | Cyclomydril (for peds patients) | Dilators (red top); Drops/Meds | |
| CME | cystoid macular edema | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CNV | choroidal neovascularization | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CNVM | choroidal neovascular membrane |
Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| COAG | chronic open angle glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CPC | cyclophotocoagulation | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| CRAO | central retinal artery occlusion | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CRVO | central retinal vein occlusion | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CRx | cycloplegic refraction | Refraction | |
| Cryo | cryotherapy | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| CSCR | central serous chorioretinopathy | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CSM | central, steady, maintained | Exam | |
| CSME | clinically significant macular edema (for diabetes) | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| CVF | confrontation visual fields | External | |
| CWS | cotton wool spot | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| Cyl | cylinder | Refraction | |
D-E
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| D&Q | deep and quiet | Anterior chamber | |
| D/M/V/P | disc/macula/vessels/periphery | Fundus exam | |
| DALK | deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty | Cornea: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| DBH | dot blot heme (hemorrhage) | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| DF | Descemet’s fold | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| DFE | dilated fundus exam | Fundus exam | |
| Dilators (red top) | Drops/Meds | ||
| DLK | diffuse lamellar keratitis | Cornea: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| E(T) | intermittent esotropia | Alignment | |
| E | esophoria | Alignment | |
| ECCE | extracapsular cataract extraction | Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| ED | epithelial defect | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| EKC | epidemic keratoconjunctivitis | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| EOG | electrooculogram | Tests | |
| EOM | extraocular muscles/ movement |
||
| ERG | electroretinogram | Tests | |
| ERM | epiretinal membrane | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| ET | esotropia | Alignment | |
F-J
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| F+F | fixes and follows | Exam | |
| FANG | fluorescein angiography | Tests | |
| Focal | focal laser photocoagulation | Retina: Procedures/ Lasers etc. |
|
| GCA | Giant cell arteritis | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| GVF | Goldmann visual field | Tests | |
| HA | homatropine | Dilators (red top); Drops/Meds | |
| HM @ XX ft | hand motion (specify distance) | Exam | |
| HoT | hypotropia | Alignment | |
| HT | hypertropia | Alignment | |
| HVF | Humphrey visual field (usually 30-2; need to specify if 10-2 or red target, etc) | Tests | |
| I | iris | Iris | |
| ICCE | intracapsular cataract extraction | Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| IK | interstitial keratitis | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings | |
| IO | inferior oblique | Anatomy | |
| ION | ischemic optic neuropathy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| IOP | intraocular pressure | External | |
| IR | inferior | Anatomy | |
| IRMA | intraretinal microvascular anomalies | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| JOAG | juvenile open angle glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
K-L
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| K | cornea | slit lamp exam | |
| KC or KCN | keratoconus | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings | |
| KCS | keratoconjunctivitis sicca | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings | |
| KP | keratic precipitate | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings | |
| L | lens | Lens | |
| L/L | lids/lashes | Slit lamp exam | |
| Lag | lid lag | External | |
| LASEK | laser epithelial keratomileusis | Cornea: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| LASIK | laser in situ keratomileusis, also laser-assisted in situkeratomileusis | Cornea: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| LCA | Leber’s congenital amaurosis | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| LF | levator function | External | |
| LHON | Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| LI/LPI | laser iridotomy/laser peripheral iridotomy | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| LP c projection | light perception with projection | Exam | |
| LP s projection | light perception without projection | Exam | |
| LP | light perception | Exam | |
| LR | lateral rectus | Anatomy | |
M-N
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| M1 | Mydriacyl (tropicamide) 1% | Dilators (red top); Drops/Meds | |
| MG | myasthenia gravis | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| MGD | meibomian gland dysfunction | Lids: Diagnoses/findings | |
| MGP | meibomian gland plugging | Lids: Diagnoses/findings | |
| MP/Mx | membrane peel/membranectomy | Retina: Procedures/ Lasers etc. | |
| MR | medial rectus | Anatomy | |
| MRD1 | margin to reflex distance 1 | External | |
| MRD2 | margin to reflex distance 2 | External | |
| MRx | manifest refraction | Refraction | |
| MS | multiple sclerosis | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| N2.5/N10 | Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine) 2.5% or 10% | Dilators (red top); Drops/Meds | |
| NAION | nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NI | no improvement | Exam | |
| NLP | no light perception | Exam | |
| NPDR | non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NRx | near refraction | Refraction | |
| NS | nuclear sclerosis | Lens: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NTG/LTG | normal/low tension glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NVA | neovascularization of the angle | Gonioscopy | |
| NVD | neovascularization of the disc | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NVE | neovascularization elsewhere | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NVG | neovascular glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| NVI | neovascularization of the iris | Iris | |
O
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| OCT NFL | OCT of nerve fiber layer (optic nerve evaluation) | Tests | |
| OCT | optical coherence tomography | Tests | |
| OD | right eye | Anatomy | |
| OHT | ocular hypertension | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| OS | left eye | Anatomy | |
| OU | both eyes | Anatomy | |
P
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| PAS | peripheral anterior synechiae | Gonioscopy | |
| PBK | pseudophakic bullous keratopathy | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PCC | posterior cortical changes | Lens: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PCIOL | posterior chamber | Lens | |
| PCO | posterior capsular opacity (post-cataract patients) | Lens: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PD | pupillary distance or prism diopter | Refraction | |
| PDR | proliferative diabetic retinopathy | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PDT | photodynamic therapy | Retina: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| PEE | punctate epithelial erosion | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PEK | punctate epithelial keratopathy/ keratitis OR photo-electronic keratoscope | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PF | palpebral fissure | External | |
| PH | pinhole visual acuity | Exam | |
| Phaco/ACIOL or Phaco/PCIOL | phaco with anterior chamber intraocular lens or posterior chamber intraocular lens | Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| Phaco | phacoemulsification | Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| PHNI | pinhole no improvement | Exam | |
| PION | posterior ischemic optic neuropathy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PK | penetrating keratoplasty | Cornea: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PKP | penetrating keratoplasty | Cornea: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| POAG/OAG | primary open angle glaucoma/open angle glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| POHS | presumed ocular histoplasmosis | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PPA | peripapillary atrophy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PPV/Vx | pars plana vitrectomy/vitrectomy | Retina: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| PRK | photorefractive keratectomy | Cornea: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| PRP | pan-retinal photocoagulation | Retina: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| PS | posterior synechiae (designate location/clock hours) | Iris | |
| PSC | posterior subcapsular cataract | Lens: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PVD | posterior vitreous detachment | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PXE | pseudoxanthoma elasticum | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| PXF | pseudoexfoliation | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
R-S
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| R/R | round/reactive | Iris | |
| R | retinoscopy | Refraction | |
| Rc | cycloplegic retinoscopy | Refraction | |
| RD | retinal detachment | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| RP | retinitis pigmentosa | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| RPE | retinal pigment epithelium | fundus exam | |
| SB | scleral buckle | Retina: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| sc | without refractive correction | Exam | |
| SL | Schwalbe’s line | Gonioscopy | |
| SLE | slit lamp exam | Slit lamp exam | |
| SLK | superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings | |
| SLT | selective laser trabeculoplasty | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| SO | superior oblique | Anatomy | |
| SOAG | secondary open angle glaucoma | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| Sph | sphere | Refraction | |
| SPK | superficial punctate keratopathy/ keratitis | Cornea: Diagnoses/ findings | |
| SR | superior rectus | Anatomy | |
| SRNV | subretinal neovascularization | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| SRNVM | subretinal neovascular membrane | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| SS | scleral spur | Gonioscopy | |
T- Δ
| Abbreviation | Definition | Category | |
| T | tonometry | Tonometry | |
| Ta | applanation (Goldmann) tonometry | Tonometry | |
| TM | trabecular meshwork | Gonioscopy | |
| TON | traumatic optic neuropathy | Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings | |
| Tp | pneumotonometer | tonometry | |
| Trab | trabeculectomy | Glaucoma: Procedures/Lasers etc. | |
| TRD | tractional detachment | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| UDFE | undilated fundus exam | fundus exam | |
| UGH | uveitis glaucoma hyphema syndrome | Glaucoma: Diagnoses/findings | |
| Va | visual acuity | Exam | |
| VF | visual field | Tests | |
| VH | vitreous hemorrhage | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| VMT | vitreomacular traction | Retina: Diagnoses/findings | |
| WC/LS | warm compresses/lid scrubs | Drops/Meds | |
| WRx | wearing Rx (currently worn eyeglass/contact lens prescription) | Refraction | |
| X(T) | intermittent exotropia | Alignment | |
| X | exophoria | Alignment | |
| XT | exotropia | Alignment | |
| Δ | prism diopter | Refraction | |
| © 2008 Bryan Kim, MD. University of Illinois at Chicago | |||