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May 22, 2013


Glaucoma Medications Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Glaucoma Medications article.

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.

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

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Ocular: Having to do with the eye.

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

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

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Optic: Having to do with vision.

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

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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...

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

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

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

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

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

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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...

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

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

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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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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