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Glossary of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Related Terms F-H

Numbers A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


F
FACS
See Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Farsightedness
Common term for hyperopia.
FDA
See Food and Drug Administration.
Flap & Zap
Slang term for Lasik.
Femtosecond Laser
An infrared range laser that delivers pulses of energy within the cornea, causing a small controlled explosion of gas that separates the layers of the cornea. The femtosecond laser for ophthalmology use on the eye is manufactured by Intralase and is used to create a Lasik flap in a procedure commonly called Bladeless Lasik or "all laser Lasik". Detailed Femtosecond Bladeless Lasik Information
Fluorescein Angiography
A test to examine blood vessels in the retina, choroid, and iris. A special dye is injected into a vein in the arm and pictures are taken as the dye passes through blood vessels in the eye.
Fluorescein Staining
A tiny amount of a fluorescein dye is placed in the tear film. The color will make microscopic dots appear where the eye has become dry. Excessive staining is an indication of dry eye.
Flying Spot
This is a method of applying excimer laser energy. Rather than applying all excimer energy in a broad-beam across the entire ablation area, or the energy in variable spots sizes across the ablation area, a very small spot of excimer energy is applied in rapid succession at different locations across the ablation area.
Focusing Power Of The Eye
As light enters our eye, it must be brought to a focus on the retina in order to perceive a clear image. About two thirds of the focusing power of the eye comes from the cornea, the rest comes from the lens inside the eye. As the light enters the eye, it is focused a fixed amount by the cornea. As the light passes through the pupil, the lens then adjusts the focus a variable amount with the exact amount of focusing power applied dependent on the distance of the object being viewed. Objects at near like a book or knitting require more power than distance objects like movies or traffic signs.
Food and Drug Administration
The federal agency of the United States government responsible for the evaluation and approval of medical devices. The FDA does not evaluate surgical procedures that to not require a new medical device. Click for Important FDA Links or Click here to go to Main FDA website.
Fovea
The central part of the macula that provides the sharpest vision.
Freeradical
Molecules that have been implicated as one causative factor in the stimulation of abnormal cellular reproduction (cancer) and cellular destruction (aging).
Fuch's Dystrophy
See Corneal Endothelial Cell Dystrophy.
Functional Visual Disability
The degree to which a visual error interferes with a person's ability to perform normal daily activities, such as reading, driving at night, or performing hobbies.
Fundus
The interior lining of the eyeball, including the retina, optic disc, and macula. This portion of the inner eye can be seen during an eye examination by looking through the pupil.
G
GASH
See refractive surgery complications glare, arc, starburst, and halo.
Gaussian
This is a profile of how excimer energy is applied. Used primarily on flying spot lasers, more energy is applied to the center of the spot than at the outer edges.
Ghosting
This is a common term for diplopia, or double images. If you look at a clock and some of the numbers have a lighter ghost image just off to the side, this is ghosting. Detailed Double Vision and Ghosting After Lasik Information
Glaucoma
A disease characterized by increased pressure within the eyeball. more If not diagnosed and treated, glaucoma may lead to optic nerve damage, loss of visual field, gradual vision impairment, and sometimes blindness.
Gonioscopy
A diagnostic procedure using a mirror/lens device placed directly upon the cornea that is used to view the drainage area through which aqueous fluid exits the eyeball.
Gray Box Laser
Common term used for a laser imported from outside the United States. This type of acquisition is not approved by the FDA. Detailed Counterfeit Lasik Laser Information
H
Halos
A known complication of refractive surgery that causes images from light sources to blur with circles radiating out from the center. Halos also occur naturally without refractive surgery.
Haptics
Extensions of plastic from the lens portion of an intraocular lens (IOL) that position and center the IOL within the eye.
Haze
An opacification or cloudiness of the normally clear cornea. Any build up of inflammatory infiltrates (white blood cells), extra moisture, scar tissue, or foreign substances (like drugs) can cause a clouding of the cornea.
Health Maintenance Organization
A medical or vision insurance plan that requires beneficiaries to use only the facilities and physicians who have contracted with the plan to provide services to beneficiaries. Care provided to a patient by a facility or physician that is not contracted by the Health Maintenance Organization is not normally a covered benefit of the plan, except in some emergency situations or with prior authorization from the plan.
Hemeralopia
Day blindness. Often caused by clouding or opacity of one or more of the normally clear ocular tissues.
Higher Order Aberration
A common eye examination and refraction evaluates low order aberrations (LOA). These are commonly called sphere (myopia or hyperopia) and cylinder (astigmatism). Only a wavefront diagnosis is able to measure high order aberrations (HOA), which are beyond simple sphere and cylinder. HOA are represented in mathematical calculations and are therefore infinite. The more common of these mathematical calculations are Zernike polynomials and have names like spherical aberration, coma, trefoil, and secondary astigmatism. Ophthalmology only deals with about the first eight levels of HOA as represented in Zernike.
HMO
See Health Maintenance Organization.
HOA
See Higher Order Aberration.
Humanitarian Device Exemption
A Humanitarian Device Exemption from the Food and Drug Administration authorizes the use and marketing of a device that is intended to benefit patients in the treatment of conditions that affect fewer than 4,000 individuals.
Hyperopia
Also known as farsightedness or longsightedness. Hyperopia occurs when the eyeball is too short from front to back, or the eye's focusing mechanism is too weak, causing light rays to be focused behind, rather than on, the retina. People with hyperopia have difficulty seeing objects close up. This refractive abnormality requires a plus (positive or convex) lens for correction. Hyperopia is significantly more difficult to correct with refractive surgery. Detailed Hyperopia (Farsighted/Longsighted) Lasik Vision Correction Information
Hypobaric
Environment with a decrease of atmospheric pressure, such as at high altitude.
Hypoxia
A deficiency of oxygen supply to a tissue.

Looking For Best Lasik Surgeon?

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