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Definitions
| AB Aberrometer A device that can identify common and more obscure vision errors by measuring the way light waves travel through the eye's optical system. Ablation: Surgical removal of the eye. Achromatopsia: a rare hereditary vision disorder lacking normal cone vision therefore, persons with achromatopsia are either totally colorblind or almost totally colorblind, and they have poor visual acuity. Accommodation: 1. (biology) Eye's ability to automatically change focus from seeing at one distance to seeing at another. 2. (Education) are services or supports used to enable a student to fully access the subject matter and instruction. Examples include books on tape, content enhancements, and allowing additional time to take a test. Accommodation disorder: The eye's inability to automatically change focus from seeing at a distance to seeing at near. Albinism: refers to a group of inherited conditions. People with albinism have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair. Amblyopia: also called "lazy eye" it is when the vision in one of the eyes is reduced because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. The eye itself looks normal, but it is not being used normally because the brain is favoring the other eye. Aniridia: Partial or complete absence of the iris of the eye. This rare condition, usually present at birth, results in impaired vision and sensitivity to light. Anopthalmia: condition in which one or both eyes do not form during pregnancy. When both eyes are affected, blindness results. Aphakia: Absence of the lens of the eye. Aphakia is usually associated with the surgical removal of a cataract but may also result from a wound or other cause. Assistive Technology is technology designed to be used in an assistive technology device or assistive technology service. An assistive technology device is any item, piece of equipment, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Examples include: Braille readers, motorized wheelchairs, and specialized keyboards. Astigmatism: the result of an inability of the cornea to properly focus an image onto the retina resulting in a blurred image. B Best's Disease Rare, inherited condition that affects the macula, the area in the middle of the retina, and can cause blurred or distorted vision or a loss of central vision. Best's Disease, also known as Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, may affect both eyes Blepharitis: an inflammation of the eyelid margin that may have several causes and can result in mild to severe discomfort and irritation as well as possibly blurred vision. Blindness: visual acuity of not greater than 20/200 in the better eye with correction or a field not subtending an angle greater than 20 degrees. C Cataracts: a clouding of the eye’s lens that diminishes vision. Charles Bonnet syndrome: Visual disturbances usually occurring in people who have experienced visual impairment or sight loss later in life, as through macular degeneration. People with Charles Bonnet syndrome may see a wide range of images, from simple patterns to people, animals, and buildings. The visual disturbances associated with this syndrome are not signs of mental illness, and people realize that the images they are seeing are not real. Chlamydial Inclusion Conjunctivitis is an infection of the conjunctiva of the eye that is caused by the sexually transmitted disease called Chlamydia. Choroideremia: Rare disorder that causes progressive loss of the choroid, an important layer under the retina that is responsible for some of its blood supply. Ciliary body: is a ring of tissue with muscle fibers that change the size of the pupil and the shape of the lens. It is found behind the iris. Coloboma: of the iris: is a hole or defect of the iris of the eye. Most colobomas are present since birth (congenital). Color blindness: vision problem in which a person has difficulty distinguishing certain colors—most commonly red and green, but sometimes blue and green or blue and yellow. Color blindness is not really a form of blindness, but rather a deficiency in color perception. Computer Vision Syndrome: A condition where after working on a computer the user experiences headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, fatigue, or dry, burning eyes (CVS). Cone-rod dystrophy: Inherited disease that, over time, causes deterioration of the specialized light-sensitive cells of the retina. People with cone-rod dystrophy typically experience decreased sharpness of vision followed by a loss of peripheral vision and color perception. The most common form of cone-rod dystrophy is retinitis pigmentosa. Congenital eye defects: Any of various conditions present at birth that affect the eyes or vision. Conjunctivitis: is redness & inflammation of the membranes covering the whites of the eyes and on the inner part of the eyelids. Corneal disease: Disease or disorder that affects the cornea, the clear, curved surface that covers the front of the eye. The effects of corneal disease vary. Some corneal conditions cause few, if any, vision problems. Corneal ulcer: an open sore on the cornea, the clear structure overlying the iris (which is the colored part of your eye). A Cortical visual impairment: Visual impairment caused by damage to those parts of the brain related to vision. Although the eye is normal, the brain cannot properly process the information it receives. The degree of vision loss may be mild or severe and can vary greatly, even from day to day. D Deaf-Blindness: simultaneous hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness. DeMorsier's Syndrome: Rare disorder, present at birth, in which the optic nerve is underdeveloped, the pituitary gland does not function properly, and often a portion of brain tissue is not formed. Developmental Delay occurs when a child's development progresses at a slower rate than most children. This is often seen as a delayed achievement of one or more of a child's milestones. A developmental delay can affect a child's physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development. Diabetes Eye Complications Diabetic retinopathy Eye condition that results from the damaging effect of diabetes on the circulatory system of the retina. Drusen are very small yellow or white spots that appear in Bruch's membrane (one of the layers of the retina in the eye). Dry eye syndrome: Persistent dryness of the eyes resulting from too little production of tears or too rapid evaporation of tears. People with dry eye syndrome may experience such symptoms as itching, burning, or stinging eyes EF Extended School Year(ESY) refers to the special education and related services which meet the state standards that a student with disabilities receives beyond the school year as stipulated in the IEP. These services are provided at no charge to the family or student. Eye muscle repair is surgery to correct eye muscle problems that cause crossed eyes. The medical term for crossed eyes is strabismus. Eye tumor: FAPE stands for "free appropriate public education." This right is guaranteed to students with disabilities by IDEA. The provision states that special education and related services, in accordance with the state's standards, are provided free of charge under public supervision and direction in compliance with the student's IEP. It includes preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education. Farsightedness Also called hyperopia. To farsighted people, near objects are blurry, but far objects are in focus. Fixation: Floaters: floaters are those tiny spots and specks that drift aimlessly around in your field of vision. While annoying, ordinary eye floaters and spots are very common and usually aren't cause for alarm. Fovea: Functional Blindness: the absence of any usable vision. Only about 1 in 10 visually impaired people are functionally blind. Most have some usable vision. Fungal keratitis eye infection: G Giant papillary conjunctivitis is an allergic reaction resulting in inflammation of the palpebral conjunctiva (thin membrane on the underside of the eyelids). Commonly called GPC by eye doctors Glaucoma: to a group of eye conditions that lead to damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain, due to increased pressure in the eye. Geographic atrophy: Graves' ophthalmology: H Hemianopia: Blindness affecting half of the field of vision. Hemianopia, also known as hemianopsia, may be caused by various medical conditions, but usually results from a stroke or brain injury. Heterochromia: High-index: Higher-order aberration: Histiocytosis Abnormal proliferation of histiocytes (immune system cells). Common symptoms include bone tumors and skin rashes. If histiocytosis affects the eyes, it causes bulging. Read more: http://www.allaboutvision. com/resources/glossary.htm#ixzz1M4xFaAtG Horner's syndrome: Hyperopia: farsightedness. Hypoplasia: underdevelopment of an organ or tissue. When you child's eye report reads that there is "optic nerve hypoplasia" it means that nerve is not developed. Hypotony: low eye pressure. I J Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was first enacted in 1975 as the Education for all Handicapped Children Act. It is a comprehensive law that governs the education of students with disabilities. The current version of the law was amended in 2004 (referred to as IDEA '04 or PL 108-446). For more information about the IDEA, go to the U. S. Department of Education's IDEA web site at http://idea.ed.gov/. This new site was created to provide a one-stop shop for resources related to IDEA and its implementing regulations. Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document designed by a team of educators, specialists, and the child's parent(s)/guardian(s) that outlines the child's learning/behavioral goals and objectives. This document must be updated at least every 12 months; however, an IEP team meeting can be called by any member of the team at anytime. The IEP includes a description of the child's present level of educational performance and identifies annual goals and objectives along with methods for assessing progress toward goals and objectives. In addition, the IEP includes any necessary supports, accommodations, adaptations, and/or related services. Inclusion: when students with disabilities are included in the general education classroom/program to the extent possible. Any support services the student needs will be provided in this setting. Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma: a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the eye. Intraocular lens: Intraocular pressure (IOP): Iris: Iritis: KL Keratoconus: is a thinning disorder of the cornea that causes distortion and reduced vision. Keratectomy: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca: Dry eye syndrome. Laser Eye Surgery: Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. This changes its focusing power. For many people, laser eye surgery can correct their vision so they no longer need glasses or contact lenses. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) refers to the concept that children with disabilities should be educated to the maximum extent possible with children who are not disabled while meeting all their learning needs and physical requirements. The type of setting is stipulated in a child's IEP. Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: Rare, inherited disorder affecting many parts of the body. People with this condition have retinitis pigmentosa accompanied by mental retardation, paralysis of the legs, and various other symptoms. [I've had at least 3 students with this condition. Also see Laurence Biedl, Laurence Biedl Moon Syndrome.] Leber's congenital amaurosis: Inherited condition, probably caused by degeneration of the retina, in which an infant is born blind or develops severe vision loss soon after birth. Children with Leber's congenital amaurosis typically also have nystagmus, and some also have mental retardation and hearing disorders. Legal Blindness: •Visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with corrective lenses (20/200 means that a person at 20 feet from an eye chart can see what a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet); |
M Macular corneal dystrophy is a bilateral cloudiness of the cornea along with opacities primarily in the central layer of the cornea, the stroma. Myopia: nearsightedness. myokymia: eyelid twitching N Nearsightedness:myopia OP Ocular Albinism: Albinism involving the eyes. Oculocutaneous albinism:Albinism involving the eyes, hair and skin. Optic Neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve. Optic Nerve: connects the eye to the brain and carries the visual signals from the retina to the brain. Partially Sighted: best-corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or less in the good eye. Even when wearing regular corrective lenses, partially sighted people cannot read standard newsprint, or see expressions on a person's face. Pink Eye (see Conjunctivitis) Pupil: QR Reading glasses Also called readers. Glasses to help with close work, particularly for people who are presbyopic. Refraction: The turning or bending of light waves as the light passes from one medium or layer to another. In the eye it means the ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused onto the retina. Refractive error: When light rays don't properly refract from the cornea to the retina, it is a refractive error. This can take the form of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism Refractive Surgery: Surgery that corrects visual acuity, with the objective of reducing or eliminating the need for glasses and contacts. Includes radial keratotomy, PRK, LASIK, and corneal implants. Retina:The retina is a layer of tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain. In the center of this nerve tissue is the macula. It provides the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving and seeing fine detail. Retinal Detachment: a separation of the retina from its attachments to its underlying tissue within the eye. Retinitis: Retinitis Pigmentosa: a hereditary eye disorder causing gradual destruction of the retina. Sight loss is usually gradual but progressive. Retinal Disorders: The retina is a layer of tissue in the back of your eye. Retinal disorders affect this vital tissue. Retinoblastoma: a cancer of the eye which occurs in infants and young children. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): An eye disease common in premature babies that involves abnormal growth of blood vessels in the inner back of the eye (retina). Retinoschisis Condition in which the retina splits into layers, sometimes causing blurred vision. It is either inherited or acquired; the acquired form is caused by small cysts in the eye. You may also have floaters. Retinoscope (RET-in-oh-skohp). Device for measuring an eye's refractive error with no response required from the patient. Light is projected into the eye, and the movements of the light reflection from the eye are neutralized (eliminated) with lenses. Rod: Light-sensitive, specialized retinal receptor cell that works at low light levels (night vision). A normal retina contains 150 million rods. Rhegmatogenous Arising from a break or tear, describing a common type of retinal detachment. Rheopheresis The RHEO Procedure ("rheopheresis") is a method of blood filtration (apheresis) for treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration that removes large proteins and fatty components from the blood to improve circulation to macular cells at the back of the eye. River blindness: Onchocerciasis is caused by a parasitic worm, which is spread in the human bloodstream through bites from blackflies and buffalo gnats found in parts of Africa, South America, and Central America. The worm's offspring cause inflammation, bleeding, and other problems in the eye. Without a 15-year regimen of annual doses of Mectizan, blindness will result. (Information supplied by ORBIS International.) S Sclera: the white outer wall of the eye. Scleritis: an inflammation of the sclera (the white outer wall of the eye). Sighted Guide: a technique which enables a person who is blind to use a person with sight as a guide. The technique follows a specific form and has specific applications. scotoma Blind spot Strabismus: Crossed eyes. T Tunnel Vision: restricted peripheral vision. UV Vision: the act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight. Visual Impairment: The total inability to see or a severe reduction in vision that cannot be corrected. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines impaired vision in five categories: Low vision 1 is a best corrected visual acuity of 20/70. Low vision 2 starts at 20/200. Blindness 3 is below 20/400. Blindness 4 is worse than 5/300 Blindness 5 is no light perception at all. A visual field between 5° and 10° (compared with a normal visual field of about 120°) goes into category 3; less than 5° into category 4, even if the tiny spot of central vision is perfect. Vitreous Detachment: The pulling or tearing away from of the gel-like substance that helps the eye maintain a round shape W XYZ |
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