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Glossary of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Related Terms - I~L
By Glenn Hagele
I
ICL
See Implantable Collamer Lens
ICRS
Intrastromal Corneal
Ring Segments (ICRS, trade name Intacs).
Implantable Collamer Lens
Descriptive trade name
for the STAAR Myopic Visian Implantable
Collamer Lens (ICL) indicated for the correction of high refractive error and is intended for placement behind the iris in
the posterior chamber of the phakic eye.
Also known as a Phakic Intraocular Lens (P-IOL), the design of the ICL
is very similar to that of standard intraocular lenses used for cataract surgery. However, the ICL has been designed with forward vault to
minimize contact with the central anterior capsule of the crystalline lens. The lens material is a hydrophilic biocompatible
polymer known as Collamer and has a history of safe use in approved
standard posterior chamber intraocular lenses.
Outside the United States the ICL is known as the Implantable Contact
Lens. The US Food and
Drug Administration rightfully determined this descriptive name
would misinform the public of the nature of the P-IOL. Detailed Visian &
Verisyse Phakic Intraocular
Lens (P-IOL) Information
Ingrowth, Epithelial
See Epithelial Ingrowth.
Intacs
Trade name for
Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments. Small semicircular rings of plastic
that are implanted in the mid-periphery of the cornea to correct myopia (nearsighted,
shortsighted vision) and/or keratoconus.
See Intacs Details.
Intralase
Manufacturer of a
femtosecond laser for use in creating a Lasik flap and other precise corneal incisions. Lasik with the
Intralase laser created flap is called Bladeless Lasik or Bladeless Lasik. See Bladeless Lasik details.
Bladeless Lasik
See Bladeless Lasik
Intraocular
Meaning inside the
eye.
Intraocular Lens
A man-made silicone or
plastic lens used to replace the natural crystalline lens of the eye. Used in cataract surgery, Phakic
Intraocular Lens (P-IOL) implantation, or Refractive Lens Exchange.
Intraocular Pressure
Pressure within the eye. High intraocular pressure is called glaucoma.
Iris
Colored portion of the eye that expands or contracts to control the
size of the pupil.
Intraoperative
Patient care
procedures performed during the operation that are ancillary to the
actual surgery. May include monitoring, fluid therapy, medication,
transfusion, anesthesia, radiography, and/or laboratory testing.
Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments
See Intacs.
IOL
See Intraocular Lens
IOP
See Intraocular Pressure
Ischemia
A decrease in the
blood supply caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels.
J
JCAHO
See Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
The Joint Commission
evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and
programs in the United States.
K
Keloid
An abnormal scaring of
damaged tissue. See Keloid Details.
Keratectomy
Surgical excision
(removal) of any portion of the cornea.
Keratitis
Inflammation of the
cornea.
kerato...
A prefix indicating
relationship to the cornea.
Keratoconjuntivitis
An inflammation
(infectious or auto-immune) of the cornea and conjunctiva.
Keratoconus
A disorder that
involves a thinning of the central cornea. The normally round shape of
the cornea becomes distorted. A cone-like bulge develops, resulting in
significant visual impairment. Keratoconus Details
Keratometry
The measurement of the
curvature of the cornea.
Keratomileusis
A refractive surgical
technique where a partial thickness circular flap of cornea is removed,
frozen, reshaped on a lathe and replaced upon the cornea. The lathe can
shape either a convex or a concave lens.
Keratotomy
A surgical incision of
the cornea as in Radial Keratotomy.
KeraVision
An ophthalmic device
company.
L
Lacrimal Gland
The small
almond-shaped structure that produces tears; located just above the
outer corner of the eye.
Lagophthalmos
The inability or
difficulty closing one's eye. This can be caused by Bell's Palsy,
trauma, neurosurgery, bacterial infection, stroke, and cosmetic surgery.
Common symptoms are severe dry eye and discomfort, corneal ulceration,
decrease or loss of vision. See Dry Eye Treatment.
LAL
See Light Adjustable Lens.
LASEK
See Laser Assisted Epithelium Keratomileusis.
Laser
An acronym for Light
Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser light is
different from ordinary light in that it is composed of one color
(wavelength) traveling in one direction and each light wave is traveling
in step with the adjacent wave making the laser light more powerful by a
factor of millions. This energy is carried by the wave in "packets"
called photons.
Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis
An advanced laser
procedure combining ALK and PRK to
reshape the central cornea, thereby
decreasing or eliminating myopia (nearsighted, shortsighted vision), hyperopia (farsighted, longsighted vision), and astigmatism (irregular cornea). The refractive surgeon uses an
automated microkeratome to shave off
a thin, hinged layer of the cornea. This flap is then lifted like a
hinged door and the exposed surface is reshaped using the excimer laser. After altering the corneal curvature, the flap is
replaced and adheres without stitches. Lasik Details
Laser Assisted Epithelium Keratomileusis
Laser Assisted
Sub-Epithelium Keratomileusis (LASEK) is the detachment of the
epithelium with the use of an alcohol solution that softens the
epithelium and allows it to be rolled back into a flap. The flap of
epithelium is then be repositioned over the cornea following excimer
ablations. LASEK
Details
Laser
Diagnostic Technologies
Ophthalmic equipment
company.
LaserSight
Ophthalmic equipment
company.
Laser Thermal Keratoplasty
A non-excimer laser
refractive surgery. The office-based instrument applies two rings of
laser energy to the midperiphery of the cornea. Each ring gently heats
collagen in the cornea to change corneal shape. The application of
energy is accomplished without physically contacting the cornea with
instrumentation or other apparatus.
Lasik
See Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis.
Lattice
Degeneration
Lattice degeneration
is a hereditary vitreoretinal
degeneration of the retina, causing holes
most often in the periphery and possibly leading to retinal detachment. Lattice is a commonly a contraindication for refractive surgery. Lattice Degeneration Details.
Legal
Blindness
In the U.S., (1)
Visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with corrective
lenses. (2) Visual field restricted to 20 degrees diameter or less
(tunnel vision) in the better eye. Note these criteria are used to
determine eligibility for government disability benefits and do not
necessarily indicate a person's ability to function.
Lens
A transparent double
convex (outward curve on both sides) structure between the iris and the
vitreous humor. Two structures of the eye focus light onto the retina.
The first is the cornea or front surface of the eye that provides about
65% of the focusing power of the eye. The human lens is located behind
the iris and in front of the vitreous humor and provides the remaining
focusing power for the eye. In younger patients (usually below age 45)
the lens is able to adjust it's power allowing the eye to change it's
focal length from distance to near.
Lenticular Astigmatism
When the crystalline lens is not symmetrical. See Lenticular Astigmatism Details
Light Adjustable Lens
An intraocular lens being developed by
Calhoun Vision that can adjust its refractive power by the
introduction of high frequency light waves into the eye. In theory, if a
patient's refractive error is not
precisely correct after cataract or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) surgery, the lens can be adjusted
without removal from the eye.
Limbus
The visible borderline
between the clear cornea and the white sclera of the eye. The
conjunctival layer that covers the globe also joins at the limbus.
LTK
See Laser Thermal Keratoplasty.
Low
Vision
Visual loss that
cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses and interferes
with daily living activities.
Looking For Best Lasik Surgeon?
If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional
or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, or any refractive surgery procedure, we recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization.
Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Doctor.
Personalized Answers
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