Dry Eye Syndrome Glossary of Terms

1. Eye Diseases and Conditions Slideshow Pictures
2. Pink Eye Slideshow Pictures
3. Laser Eye Surgery Slideshow Pictures

20/20: See: Twenty-twenty.

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

Abrasion: An abrasion or "excoriation" is a wearing away of the upper layer of s...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Antidepressants: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bell's palsy: Paralysis of the nerve that supplies the facial muscles on one side of the f...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids. Blepharitis occurs in two forms, anterior and po...

Blurred vision: Lack of sharpness of vision with, as a result, the inability to see fine d...

Conditioning: 1) Exercise and practice to build the body up for either improved normal pe...

Conjunctiva: A thin, clear, moist membrane that coats the inner surfaces of the eyelids (p...

Cornea: The clear front window of the eye, which transmits and focuses light into the eye....

Corneal: Pertaining to the cornea, the clear front window of the eye that transmits and fo...

Corneal abrasion: A scratch or scrape on the cornea, the clear front window of the eye tha...

Corticosteroid: Any of the steroid hormones made by the outer portion (cortex) of the adre...

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

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

Doxycycline: Brand name: Vibramycin. A synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from te...

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

Dry eye: A deficiency of tears. The main symptom is usually a scratchy or sandy feeling as...

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

Epithelial: Relating to the epithelium.

Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a common antibiotic for treating bacterial infection. Sold...

Eyelid: The lid or cover of the eye, a movable fold of skin and muscle that can be closed ...

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

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

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Flush: (1) A redness of the skin, typically over the cheeks or neck. A flush is usually ...

Gland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy...

Humidifier: A machine that puts moisture into the air. Humidified air makes it easier to b...

Immunology: The study of all aspects of the immune system, including its structure and fun...

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

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

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

Keratoconjunctivitis: Inflammation of the eye that involves both the cornea and conjunctiv...

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca: also known as dry eye syndrome or keratitis sicca, a condition...

Lacrimal: Pertaining to tears. For example, the lacrimal gland is a gland that secretes te...

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

Lateral: 1. In anatomy, the side of the body or a body part that is farther from th...

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...

Lipids: Another word for "fats." (Please see the various meanings of Fat.) Lipids can be m...

Lupus: A chronic inflammatory disease that is caused by autoimmunity. Patients with lupus ...

Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

Meibomian gland: A type of gland in the eyelids that makes a lubricant called sebum which ...

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

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

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

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Occlusion: The act of occluding. See: Occlude.

Ophthalmic: Pertaining to the eye. For example, an ophthalmic ointment is designed for the...

Ophthalmologist: A physician who practices ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology: The art and science of eye ?medicine.

Osmolarity: The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution, which may be qu...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Palsy: Paralysis, generally partial, whereby a local body area is incapable of voluntary m...

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

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Reflex: An involuntary reaction. For example, the corneal reflex is the blink that occurs ...

Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of joint...

Rosacea: A chronic skin disease that causes persistent redness over the areas of the face ...

Saliva: a watery secretion in the mouth produced by the salivary glands that aids in the d...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Sensitivity: 1. In psychology, the quality of being sensitive. As, for example, sen...

Sjogren syndrome: An autoimmune disease that classically combines dry eyes, dry mouth, and...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome: A serious systemic (bodywide) allergic reaction with a character...

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

Superficial: In anatomy, on the surface or shallow. As opposed to deep. The skin is superf...

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

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Tear: A drop of the salty secretion of the lacrimal glands which serves to moisten the con...

Tear film: The liquid layer bathing the cornea and conjunctiva. It creates a perfectly smo...

Tetracycline: A family of broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against a remarkably wide v...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Uveitis: Inflammation of the uvea. Uveitis is a serious form of eye inflammation and requi...