Term | Definition |
accommodation | The adjustment of the eye that allows a person to see various sizes of objects at different distances. |
amblyopia | Reduction or dimness of vision with no apparent organic cause; often referred to as lazy eye syndrome. |
audiologist | An allied healthcare professional who specializes in the evaluation of hearing function, detection of hearing impairment, and determination of the anatomic site of impairment. |
cones | Structures in the retina that make the perception of color possible. |
fovea centralis | A small pit in the center of the retina that is considered the center of clearest vision. |
gonioscopy | A procedure in which a mirrored optical instrument is used to visualize the filtration angle of the anterior chamber of the eye; the procedure is used to diagnose glaucoma. |
hertz | A unit of measurement used in hearing examinations; a wave frequency equal to 1 cycle per second. |
miotic | Any substance or medication that causes constriction of the pupil. |
mydriatic | A topical ophthalmic medication that dilates the pupil; it is used in diagnostic procedures of the eye and as a treatment for glaucoma. |
optic disc | The region at the back of the eye where the optic nerve meets the retina; it is considered the blind spot of the eye, because it contains only nerve fibers and no rods or cones and thus is insensitive to light. |
optic nerve | The second cranial nerve, which carries impulses for the sense of sight. |
otosclerosis | The formation of spongy bone in the labyrinth of the ear, which often causes the auditory ossicles to become fixed and unable to vibrate when sound enters the ears. |
ototoxic | A medicine or substance capable of damaging the eighth cranial nerve or the organs of hearing and balance. |
psoriasis | A usually chronic, recurrent skin disease marked by bright red patches covered with silvery scales. |
rods | Structures in the retina of the eye that form the light-sensitive elements. |
seborrhea | An excessive discharge of sebum from the sebaceous glands, forming greasy scales or cheesy plugs on the body. |
tonometer | An instrument used to measure intraocular pressure. |