Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the medical and surgical specialty devoted to diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system.
Anatomy of the human eye: The structures of the eye that gather light, focus images, and transmit visual signals to the brain. Its tissues and chambers are the foundations of ophthalmic examination and surgery.
Cataract: Clouding of the eye's natural lens that can blur vision and increase glare. Cataract surgery is one of ophthalmology's most frequently performed operations.
Slit lamp: A microscope with a narrow beam of light used to examine the front of the eye and, with lenses, the back. It provides magnified views of ocular structures during routine examinations.
Albrecht von Graefe: A nineteenth-century German ophthalmologist known for advancing eye surgery and establishing modern clinical ophthalmology. His work helped establish ophthalmology as a distinct medical specialty.
Optician: A professional who fits and dispenses eyeglasses or contact lenses using prescriptions from authorized eye-care practitioners. Opticians provide optical products rather than diagnosing eye disease or performing eye surgery.
Visual acuity: The sharpness of vision, commonly measured by the smallest letters distinguishable at a set distance. It is a basic measure of visual function in eye examinations.
Glaucoma: A group of optic nerve diseases that can cause irreversible vision loss, often associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Treatment aims to slow optic nerve damage, usually by lowering eye pressure.
Ophthalmoscopy: Examination of the interior of the eye, especially the retina and optic nerve, using an ophthalmoscope or related optics. It lets clinicians inspect structures that cannot be seen from the eye's surface.
Patricia Bath: An American ophthalmologist and inventor who developed the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment. Her device applied laser technology to cataract surgery.
Orthoptics: A clinical discipline focused on assessing and treating disorders of eye movement, alignment, and binocular vision. Orthoptists specialize in visual alignment and rehabilitation within broader eye-care teams.