| A | B |
|---|
| labyrinthitis / otitis interna | inflammation of the labyrinth that can result in vertigo and deafness |
| Meniere Disease | rare, chronic disease in which the pressure of fluid in the inner ear increases intermittently |
| myringotomy | surgical incision into the eardrum for the placement of tympanostomy tubes |
| tympanostomy tubes | used to drain fluids and relieve pressure in the middle ear |
| stapedectomy | surgical removal of the top portion of the stapes and insertion of a piston; treatment for otosclerosis |
| hearing aid | small electronic device that amplifies sound |
| cochlear implant | electronic device implanted behind the ear that receives sound signals and transmits them to electrodes implanted in the cochlea |
| blepharoptosis (ptosis) | drooping of the upper eyelid, usually due to paralysis |
| ectropion | eversion of the edge of an eyelid |
| entropion | inversion of the edge of an eyelid |
| chalazion | hard, cystic mass inside the eyelid resulting from chronic inflammation of one of the sebaceous glands |
| conjunctivitis | inflammation of the conjunctiva (pinkeye) |
| anisocoria | condition of pupils being unequal in size; due to injury or disease, or congenital |
| retinal detachment | separation of the layers of the retina |
| monochromatism | colour blindness; genetic inability to distinguish certain colours |
| strabismus | abnormal deviation of the eye |
| esotropia | one eye is turned inwards (cross-eyed) |
| exotropia | one eye is turned outwards |
| amblyopia | dimness of vision or partial loss of sight without detectable disease in the eye; often occurs in children with strabismus and is reversible until the retina is fully developed |
| refraction test | examination to determine an eye's refractive error so corrective lenses can be prescribed |
| tonometry | measurement of intraocular pressure |
| miotic | medication that lessens the size of the pupil |
| mydriatic | medication that widens the pupil |
| LASIK | laser treatment to correct refractive disorders; flap is cut in cornea, laser is used to reshape the deep corneal layers before the flap is returned |
| phacoemulsification | using ultrasonic vibrations to break up a lens which is then aspirated out and replaced with a synthetic lens |
| otitis media | inflammation of the middle ear |
| serous | consisting of watery fluid |
| purulent | consisting of infectious material (pus) |
| vertigo | sensation of irregular or whirling motion |
| tinnitus | sensation of noise (ringing or buzzing) in the ears |
| deafness | complete or partial loss of hearing |
| presbycusis | gradual loss of hearing that occurs with age |
| conductive hearing loss | hearing loss caused when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear |
| sensorineural hearing loss | nerve deafness; hearing loss caused by damage to the receptor cells in the cochlea |
| hordeolum | pus-filled lesion on the eyelid near the surface; stye |
| cataract | clouding of the lens, causing decreased vision |
| glaucoma | disease caused by increased intraocular pressure due to aqueous humor not draining; can cause blindness |
| macular degeneration | gradually progressive condition in which the macula is damaged; results in loss of central vision |
| astigmatism | problem focusing because of defective curvature of the cornea |
| hyperopia | occurs when the eyeball is too short for the curvature of the cornea; far-sightedness |
| myopia | occurs when the eyeball is too long for the curvature of the cornea; near-sightedness |
| blindness | inability to see |
| legal blindness | the point at which the law considers an individual to be blind; best corrected vision of 20/200 or less |
| otitis externa | inflammation of the outer ear; Swimmer's ear |
