Eye Injuries Glossary of Terms

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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...

Aerosol: A fine spray or mist. Medications in aerosol form can be administered via a nebul...

Air bag: The airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is restraining device designed to infla...

Ammonia: A colorless gas with a very sharp odor. Made both by humans and by nature, ammoni...

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s...

Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is tow...

Anterior chamber: The space in the eye that is behind the cornea and in front of the iris.

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

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Black eye: Bruising of the eyelid and/or the area around the eye as a result of trauma to ...

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

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

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

Conjunctival: Pertaining to the conjunctiva, the clear moist membrane that covers the inne...

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...

Cuts: Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and d...

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

Dilate: To stretch or enlarge. Also known as dilatate.

Dilating: The widening and opening of an opening, such as the cervix or esophagus. For exa...

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

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

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

Fingernail: A fingernail is produced by living skin cells in the finger. A fingernail cons...

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

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca...

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

Hammer: The malleus.

Hemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood.

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 ...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

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

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

Iritis: Inflammation of the iris. The iris is the circular, colored curtain in the front o...

Iron: An essential mineral. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen (via hemoglobin ...

Keratitis: Inflammation of the cornea. Keratitis can occur due to abrasion trauma, infecti...

Laceration: A cut.

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

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

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

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

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

Ocular: Having to do with the eye.

On call: In medicine, the person who is ready to respond, the one on duty. As in "Who is t...

Ophthalmologist: A physician who practices ophthalmology.

Orbit: In medicine, the bony cavity in which the eyeball sits.

Orbital: In anatomy, pertaining to the orbit, the bony cavity that contains the eyeball.

Orbital fracture: A break in one of the bones that make up the orbit. Since the orbit is t...

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

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

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

Pupil: The opening of the iris. The pupil may appear to open (dilate) and close (constrict...

Recur: To occur again; to return. For example, a symptom, sign, or disease can recur.

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 ...

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

Rupture: A break or tear in any organ (such as the spleen) or soft tissue (such as the ach...

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

Sclera: The tough white outer coat over the eyeball that covers approximately the posterio...

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...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Subconjunctival hemorrhage: A very common cause of a painless bloody eye usually first not...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Sunburn: Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that develops in response to exposure to u...

Sunscreen: A substance that blocks the effect of the sun's harmful rays. Using lotions tha...

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

Suture: 1. A type of joint between the bones of the skull where the bones are held ...

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

Symptomatic: 1 With symptoms, as a symptomatic infection. 2 Characteristic o...

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

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Ulcer: A lesion that is eroding away the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers can have various ...

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

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