For a list of terms, select a letter.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
Accomodation
The ability of the eye to change the shape of its lens and focus at different distances.
Air fluid gas exchange
Replacement of vitreal fluid with air or gas used with vitrectomy and retinal detachment surgery.
Angiography
A diagnostic procedure that entails the injection of a fluorescent or indocyanine green (ICG) dye into a vein in the arm and the examination of the retinal blood vessels as the dye passes through blood vessels in the eye.
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) therapy
A drug therapy which works by targeting the proteins which trigger abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage.
Aqueous fluid
A clear fluid that fills the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye. These chambers are both in the front part of the eye.
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Also known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - a disease of the human immune system that is caused by infection with HIV.
Adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP)
The main medium of energy exchange in living cells.
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)
A disease that affects mostly adult individuals and is classified as:
- Dry ARMD (non-neovascular) – more common, but less harmful. In this form, the deterioration of the retina is associated with the formation of small yellow deposits, known as drusen, under the macula. This phenomenon leads to a thinning and drying out of the macula, causing the macula to lose its function.
- Wet ARMD (neovascular) – less common, but leads to more serious vision loss. It is responsible for 80-90 percent of severe loss of vision. It affects people in the mid-70s and rarely occurs before the age of 50. In this form, abnormal blood vessels grow behind the macula and frequently leak, causing retinal cells to die and create blind spots in central vision
Amsler grid
A chart featuring evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines with a fixation dot in the middle printed on black or white paper used to assess the central visual field defects caused by various factors, primarily degeneration of the macula