Diabetic Eye Disease Glossary of Terms

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20/20: See: Twenty-twenty.

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Aerobic: Oxygen-requiring. Aerobic bacteria need oxygen to grow. Aerobic exercise requires...

Aerobic exercise: Brisk exercise that promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood...

Amputation: Removal of part or all of a body part that is enclosed by skin. Amputation can...

Angiogram: An X-ray image of blood vessels. The vessels can be seen because a contrast dye...

Aqueous humor: In medicine, humor refers to a fluid (or semifluid) substance. Thus, the aq...

Argon laser: A laser with ionized argon as the active medium. Argon lasers are used for ph...

Blindness: Loss of useful sight. Blindness can be temporary or permanent. Damage to any p...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Blood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Carbohydrates: Mainly sugars and starches, together constituting one of the three principa...

Cataract: A clouding or loss of transparency of the lens in the eye as a result of tissu...

Cataract surgery: Removal of the clouded (cataractous) lens in its entirety via surgery an...

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

Circulatory: Having to do with circulation, the movement of fluid in a regular or circuito...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with ab...

Diabetic eye disease: 1. A disease of the small blood vessels of the retina of the ...

Diabetic macular edema: Swelling of the retina in diabetes mellitus due to leaking of flui...

Diabetic retinopathy: Disease of the retina caused by diabetes that involves damage to the...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Dilation: The process of enlargement, stretching, or expansion. The word "dilatation" mean...

Edema: The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation. Edema is oft...

Epinephrine: A substance produced by the medulla (inside) of the adrenal gland. The name e...

Family practice: The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health ...

Fats: Plural of the word "fat". See the definition of fat.

Focal: Pertaining to a focus which in medicine may refer to:
1. The point at ...

Glaucoma: A common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eyes rises becaus...

Glycosylated hemoglobin: Hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Glycosylated hemoglobin is...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. He...

Hemoglobin A1c: A minor component of hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Abbreviated HbA...

Hemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood.

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

High blood sugar: An elevated level of the sugar glucose in the blood. Also called hypergl...

Humor: In medicine, a fluid or semifluid substance. For example, the aqueous humor is the ...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Intraocular: In the eye. For example, intraocular pressure is the pressure within the eye....

Intraocular pressure: The pressure created by the continual renewal of fluids within the ...

Iris: The circular, colored curtain of the eye. The opening of the iris forms the pupil. T...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Laser: A powerful beam of light that is used in some types of surgery to cut or destroy ti...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Lens: The transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina.

Lipid: Another word for "fat." (Please see the various meanings of Fat.) A lipid is more f...

Lower leg: The lower leg is the bottom segment of the leg: the part below the knee.

Macula: A macula is a small spot. A macula on the skin is a small flat spot while the macu...

Macular: Pertaining to the macula. A macula is a small spot. A macula on the skin is a s...

Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ...

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Operating room: A facility that is equipped for performing surgery. Abbreviated OR.

Ophthalmologist: A physician who practices ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology: The art and science of eye ?medicine.

Optic: Having to do with vision.

Optic nerve: The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain. The optic nerve carries the...

Ounce: A measure of weight equal to 1/16^th of a pound or, metrically, 28.35 gra...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Photocoagulation: The coagulation (clotting) of tissue using a laser which produces light ...

Poor circulation: An inadequacy of blood flow. Inadequate blood flow to a particular area ...

Pound: A measure of weight that is equal to 16 ounces or, metrically, 453.6 grams. Abbrevi...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

Proliferative: Growing and increasing in number rapidly.

Prostaglandin: One of a number of hormone-like substances that participate in a wide range...

Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

Red blood cells: The blood cells that carry oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

Refraction: In opthalmology, the bending of light that takes place within the human eye. R...

Retina: The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and c...

Retinal: Pertaining to the retina, the extraordinary layer of neurons (nerve cells) that ...

Retinal detachment: A separation of the retina from its connection at the back of the eye....

Retinopathy: Any disease of the retina, the light-sensitive membrane at the back of the ey...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Tonometry: A standard eye test that is done to determine the fluid pressure inside the eye...

Ulceration: The process or fact of being eroded away, as by an ulcer.

Visual acuity: The clarity or clearness of vision, a measure of how well a person sees.

Visual field: The entire area that can be seen when the eye is directed forward, including...

Vitrectomy: Removal of the gel (called the vitreous) from within the eyeball. This may be ...

Vitreous: A clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye. Also called the ...