Here is a link to an interactive eye model to see the different parts of the eye and read about their basic functions.

Do you love to research? Want to know more about the terms and conditions that are frequently mentioned around optometry and our office? Check out this list (A-Z) to take a deeper dive into understanding more about the care of your eyes.

• Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

  • Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is the loss or lack of development of clear vision in one or both eyes. This can be caused by an eye turn (strabismus), a high prescription that has gone uncorrected with glasses or contacts, or an ocular structural abnormality. Eyeglasses or contact lenses can't fully correct the reduced vision caused by lazy eye if vision was not developed within the critical period.

• Astigmatism

  • A common vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye.

• Blepharitis

  • Inflammation of the eyelids and eyelashes causing red, irritated, itchy eyelids and dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes. It is a common eye disorder caused by either bacteria or a skin condition, such as dandruff of the scalp or rosacea. It affects people of all ages. Although uncomfortable, blepharitis is usually not contagious and generally does not cause any permanent damage to eyesight.

• Cataracts

  • A cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear lens of the eye located behind the iris. Depending upon its size and location, it can interfere with normal vision. Most cataracts develop in people over age 55, but they occasionally occur in infants and young children. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other.

• Conjunctivitis

  • Swelling or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. Causes may or may not be infectious. Often called "pink eye," conjunctivitis is a common eye disease, especially in children. It may affect one or both eyes. Some forms of conjunctivitis are highly contagious and can easily spread in schools and at home. While conjunctivitis is usually a minor eye infection, sometimes it can develop into a more serious problem.

• Diabetic Retinopathy

  • A condition occurring in people with diabetes. It causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes.

• Dry Eye Syndrome

  • Dry eye is a condition in which a person doesn't have enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults.

• Eye Turn (Strabismus)

  • Crossed eyes, or strabismus, is a condition in which both eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. It usually occurs in people who have poor eye muscle control or are very farsighted.

• Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

  • Farsightedness, or hyperopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which distant objects can be seen clearly, but close ones do not come into proper focus.

• Glaucoma

  • Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that lead to progressive damage to the nerve that connects the eye to the brain called the optic nerve. People with glaucoma can lose nerve tissue, resulting in vision loss.
    The optic nerve is a bundle of about 1 million individual nerve fibers that transmits the visual signals from the eye to the brain. In the most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, the fluid pressure inside the eye increases. This increase in pressure may cause progressive damage to the optic nerve and loss of nerve fibers. Advanced glaucoma may even lead to blindness. 

• Macular Degeneration

  • This eye disease occurs when there are changes to the macula, a small portion of the retina that is located on the inside back layer of the eye. Macular Degeneration is a loss of central vision.

• Nearsightedness (Myopia)

  • Nearsightedness, or myopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred. People with myopia can have difficulty clearly seeing a movie or TV screen, a whiteboard in school or while driving. Myopia occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) is too curved. As a result, the light entering the eye isn't focused correctly, and distant objects look blurred.

• OCT Scans

  • Our office now offers these services to our patients. Scans of the retina and optic nerve help us to screen for, diagnose, and monitor retinal disease and glaucoma. Our equipment also captures photographs of the retina or the front of the eye to help us compare any differences over time. The iWellness scans are a quick set of screening scans that we can take while you’re in for your exam.

• Presbyopia

  • Presbyopia is a vision condition in which the shape of the crystalline lens of your eye changes. These changes make it difficult to focus on close objects. Presbyopia may seem to occur suddenly, but sight reduction occurs over several years. Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in the early to mid-40s, but the reduction of your focusing starts as early as childhood. Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process of the eye. It is not a disease, and it cannot be prevented.

• Retinal Tears and Detachments

  • A tearing or separation of the retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye) from the underlying tissue, possibly resulting in vision loss.

• Vision Therapy

  • Exercises that help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities. It aims to improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency. Also could help in changing how a patient processes or interprets visual information.

-From the American Optometric Association website. aoa.org