Glaucoma Medications 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...

Agonist: A substance that acts like another substance and therefore stimulates an action. ...

Altitude sickness: Altitude sickness (or altitude illness) is a disorder caused by being a...

Angle-closure glaucoma: This condition can be acute or chronic. It consists of increased ...

Antagonist: A substance that acts against and blocks an action. Antagonist is the opposite...

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

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

Asthma: A common lung disorder in which inflammation causes the bronchi to swell and narro...

Beta blocker: A class of drugs that block the effect of beta-adrenergic substances such as...

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...

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

Bradycardia: A slow heart rate, usually defined as less than 60 beats per minute.

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

Central vision: A process in which millions of cells change light into nerve signals that ...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

Congestive heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it, with f...

COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

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...

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

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

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

Emphysema: 1) A lung condition featuring an abnormal accumulation of air in the lung's ma...

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

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

Eye color: The color of the iris. The genetics of eye color are complicated. Eye color is ...

Eyelash: One of the familiar stiff hairs that project from the margin of the eyelid.

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Generic: 1. The chemical name of a drug. 2. A term referring to the chemical...

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

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

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

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

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Heart muscle: A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart. The heart mus...

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

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

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

Impotence: A common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustai...

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

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 ...

Iodide: The chemical form to which iodine in the diet is reduced before it is absorbed thr...

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

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

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

Lithium: A naturally occurring salt that, in purified form, is used to treat certain psych...

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Liver disease: Liver disease refers to any disorder of the liver. The liver is a large org...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

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

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

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

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

Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Ocular: Having to do with the eye.

Open-angle glaucoma: Glaucoma is a condition of the eye that leads to progressive atrophy ...

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

Optic: Having to do with vision.

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

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

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

Parasympathetic nervous system: The part of the involuntary nervous system that serves to ...

Pigment: A substance that gives color to tissue. Pigments are responsible for the colors o...

Pigmentation: The coloring of the skin, hair, mucous membranes, and retina of the eye. Pig...

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

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

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Pulmonary edema: Fluid in the lungs.

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

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

Receptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cel...

Renal: Having to do with the kidney. For example, renal cancer is cancer of the kidneys.

Resistance: Opposition to something, or the ability to withstand something. For example, s...

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....

Risk factor: Something that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. For exam...

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

Sulfonamides: The sulfa-related group of antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial in...

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

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

Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, the branch of medicine that is concerned specifical...

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

Thimerosal: A mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines and other products sin...