Atestace Oftalmologie key terms

Distance from the corneal apex to the fovea, measured by ultrasound or optical biometry, that determines whether refractive error is axial or refractive in origin.

Active developmental process in infancy and childhood in which axial growth is matched to corneal and lens power so that the eye approaches emmetropia.

Condition in which the two eyes differ significantly in refractive error, predisposing to amblyopia and aniseikonia and often requiring separate spectacle or contact lens correction.

Progressive non-inflammatory corneal ectasia with central or inferior thinning and cone-shaped protrusion, producing irregular astigmatism that is managed with rigid contact lenses or corneal cross-linking.

Procedure in which riboflavin is applied to the cornea and activated by ultraviolet-A light to stiffen stromal collagen and slow or halt progression of ectasia.

Measurement of central corneal thickness, used to interpret intraocular pressure readings and to plan refractive or cross-linking procedures.

Number of corneal endothelial cells per square millimetre, counted by specular microscopy; loss below a critical threshold risks corneal decompensation and oedema.

Layer of white blood cells settling in the dependent anterior chamber, indicating severe intraocular inflammation such as acute endophthalmitis or HLA-B27-associated uveitis.

Inflammation of the iris and ciliary body producing pain, photophobia, cells and flare in the anterior chamber, and often a miotic pupil with posterior synechiae.

Adhesions between the iris pigment epithelium and the anterior lens capsule that form during intraocular inflammation and can cause iris bombé and angle-closure glaucoma.

Forward bowing of the peripheral iris caused by aqueous trapped behind 360 degrees of posterior synechiae, producing secondary angle closure.

Examination of the anterior chamber angle using a mirrored contact lens, allowing classification of open versus closed angles and identification of neovascularisation or pigment deposition.

Enlargement of the central disc excavation with thinning of the neuroretinal rim, a structural hallmark of glaucomatous optic neuropathy assessed by stereoscopic examination or imaging.

Method of estimating intraocular pressure from the force needed to flatten a fixed area of cornea, influenced by corneal thickness and curvature.

Non-invasive cross-sectional imaging using low-coherence light to quantify retinal layers, the optic nerve head, and the anterior segment, widely used for macular and glaucoma monitoring.

Technique using partial coherence interferometry to measure axial length and corneal curvature for intraocular lens power calculation before cataract surgery.

Cataract extraction technique in which the nucleus is fragmented and aspirated through a small corneal incision using ultrasonic energy, usually with implantation of a foldable intraocular lens.

Late complication of cataract surgery in which residual lens epithelial cells proliferate on the posterior capsule, causing reduced vision treated by neodymium-YAG laser capsulotomy.

Irreversible corneal oedema with epithelial bullae occurring after cataract surgery when endothelial cell loss exceeds the capacity to maintain deturgescence.

Fluid accumulation within the central retina from breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, seen in diabetic retinopathy, vein occlusion, and after intraocular surgery.

Microvascular retinal disease of diabetes characterised by microaneurysms, haemorrhages, hard exudates, and in advanced stages neovascularisation with vitreous haemorrhage or tractional detachment.

Laser treatment applied to the peripheral retina to reduce ischaemic drive and induce regression of neovascularisation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion.

Separation of neurosensory retina from the pigment epithelium caused by a full-thickness break through which liquefied vitreous enters the subretinal space.

Age-related separation of the vitreous cortex from the internal limiting membrane that may generate photopsia and floaters and can cause retinal tears.

Asymmetric pupillary constriction when light is swung from one eye to the other, indicating unilateral or asymmetric optic nerve or extensive retinal dysfunction.

Inflammation of the optic nerve causing subacute unilateral visual loss, pain on eye movement, colour desaturation, and a relative afferent pupillary defect, often associated with demyelinating disease.

Reduced best-corrected visual acuity in one eye caused by unequal refractive error during visual development, treated by refractive correction and occlusion or penalisation of the better eye.

White pupillary reflex in a child, a red-flag sign requiring urgent evaluation for retinoblastoma, congenital cataract, retinopathy of prematurity, or Coats disease.

Vasoproliferative retinal disorder of preterm infants exposed to supplemental oxygen, staged by zone and extent, with severe cases treated by laser ablation or anti-VEGF injection.

Malignant intraocular tumour of childhood arising from retinal precursor cells, presenting with leukocoria or strabismus and managed by chemotherapy, focal therapy, or enucleation.

Primary malignant tumour of melanocytes in the iris, ciliary body, or choroid, often detected as a pigmented choroidal mass and treated with plaque brachytherapy, proton beam, or enucleation.

Benign pigmented lesion of the choroid that is usually asymptomatic and flat, distinguished from melanoma by absence of growth, subretinal fluid, and lipofuscin orange pigment.

Severe intraocular infection, most often after surgery or penetrating trauma, presenting with pain, hypopyon, and vitritis and requiring urgent intravitreal antibiotics.

Ocular surface emergency from acid or alkali exposure, graded by limbal ischaemia; alkali causes liquefactive necrosis and requires immediate prolonged irrigation.

Loss or dysfunction of stem cells at the corneoscleral limbus causing conjunctivalisation, persistent epithelial defects, and corneal vascularisation, managed by stem cell transplantation.

Overflow of tears onto the cheek caused by excessive lacrimal secretion or, more commonly, obstruction of the lacrimal drainage pathway.

Surgical creation of a bypass between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity to restore tear drainage in nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Acute rise in orbital pressure from haemorrhage or oedema that compromises optic nerve perfusion, requiring emergency canthotomy and cantholysis.

Autoimmune orbital inflammation associated with Graves disease causing lid retraction, proptosis, restrictive strabismus, and optic neuropathy in severe cases.