AMD Patient Glossary

This section summarizes terms that your eye doctor may use when discussing AMD with you.

Anterior Chamber: the fluid filled space at the front of the eye, between the iris and the cornea; anterior chamber depth is the thickness of this chamber.

Atrophy: decrease in size or wasting away of tissue.

Axial Length: overall length of the eye.

Binocular Vision: the manner in which two eyes work together.

Cataract: clouding of the natural lens inside the eye that can blur vision.

Choroid: layer of tissue lying under the retina.

Choroidal Neovascularization: the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels into the choroid.

Contraindication: any special condition that results in the treatment not being recommended.

Contrast Sensitivity: a measure of the ability of the eye to see objects in low lighting or distinguish objects that do not stand out from the background. For example, black lines on a gray background are easier to see than gray lines on a gray background. Objects in daylight are also easier to see than in dim light. Contrast sensitivity is a way to determine how well you can see in poor contrast conditions such as very dim light, rain, snow or fog.

Cornea: the transparent front portion of the eye. It covers the iris and the pupil and provides most of the eye's focusing power.

Cornea/Cataract Surgeon: an ophthalmologist who performs cornea surgical procedures and cataract surgeries.

Cornea Decompensation: a clouding of the usually clear front surface of the eye (cornea).

Cornea Edema: the abnormal fluid build-up or swelling in the cornea. The condition is usually temporary after surgery with no significant effect on vision. Persistent cornea edema may last for an unknown amount of time.

Cornea Endothelium: the inner layer of cells of the cornea.

Cornea Endothelial Cell Loss: the loss of cells on the inner surface of the cornea. Endothelial cells help keep the cornea clear and healthy.

Cornea Transplant: a procedure to remove and replace part of the corneal tissue; also called keratoplasty.

Diabetic Retinopathy: damage to the back surface of the eye due to diabetes; this part of the eye is responsible for sensing light.

Disciform: flat and rounded in shape.

Drusen: small yellow or white deposits in the retina of the eye or on the optic nerve head. The presence of drusen is an early sign of AMD.

Dystrophy: a degenerative disorder.

Efficacy: the capacity to produce an effect; in healthcare, efficacy refers to how well a treatment works.

End-Stage AMD: the most advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in which central vision is lost.

Exudative: a process in which fluid (such as pus) filters from the blood into the surrounding tissues.

Field of View: extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment. (Also called field of vision.)

Fluorescein Angiography: a test used to view the blood vessels in the eye. A dye is injected into a blood vessel in the arm. The dye travels through the blood circulation to the eye. Photographs are taken of the eye while the dye travels through the blood vessels of the eye.

Hyperopia: farsightedness. People with hyperopia can see distant objects very well, but have difficulty seeing objects that are up close.

Intraocular Lens (IOL): a small plastic lens used to replace the eye's natural lens during cataract surgery.

Intraocular Pressure (IOP): a measurement of the pressure inside the eye

Lens: a transparent structure inside the front third of the eyeball that along with the cornea helps to focus images on the retina. (The retina is like the film of a camera.)

Macula: a small area in the center of the retina near the optic nerve. The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye. It controls our visual ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects clearly.

Myopia: nearsightedness. People with myopia have difficulty reading highway signs and seeing other objects at a distance but can see for close-up tasks such a reading or sewing.

MR (Magnetic Resonance) Conditional: a device or implant that is safe for use near MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) devices if the conditions for safe operation are defined and observed.

Narrow Angle: the angle between the iris and lens.

National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25): a reliable and valid quality of life survey, the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) is used as a measure of self-reported vision-related health status for individuals with AMD or other chronic eye diseases.

Peripheral: located away from a center or central portion. Peripheral vision is the lower resolution (blurry) vision outside of the center of focus.

Photodynamic Therapy: the use of low-intensity light to destroy tissue in a local area.

Prosthesis: an artificial substitute for a missing or malfunctioning part of the body.

Pseudoexfoliation: flakes or deposits at the edges of the pupil of the iris and throughout the inner surface of the front of the eye.

Retina: the thin lining, or "film", at the back of the eye. It converts light images into nerve signals sent to the brain.

Retinal Degeneration: a weakening or disease of the retina.

Retinal Pigment Epithelium: the cell layer located between the retina and choroids.

Visual Acuity: the sharpness and clarity of vision; usually measured using different sized letters on an eye chart.