Glossary of Terms

Acuity means clearness or crispness (ie, “visual acuity”).

Astigmatism is the medical term for distorted vision.

Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) is the measure of your best acuity while wearing glasses or contact lenses, the best your eye can see.

Co-management (also a term used in reference to Pre- and Post-Operative Care) is the term used to describe the collaborative care of patients between the optometrist and refractive surgeon.

Corrective Devices refers to prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Diopter is the unit of focusing power of a lens. For example, a 2 diopter lens bends light more than a 1 diopter lens.

Emmetropia is the medical term for the normal eye.

Hyperopia is the medical term for farsightedness.

LASIK is the common term used to refer to the refractive surgical procedure Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis.

Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness.

Presbyopia is the medical term for aging eyes.

PRK is the common term used to refer to the refractive surgical procedure Photorefractive Keratectomy.

Refraction is the deflection of a ray of light when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density; the act of determining the nature and degree of the refractive errors in the eye and correction of the same by lenses.

Vision Services Team

Laser Vision Correction Coordinator is a knowledgeable and skilled professional who coordinates various aspects of the Laser Vision Correction experience for each patient (i.e., providing informational materials, informed consent process, scheduling appointments and surgery assistance).

Ophthalmologist is a medical professional specializing in the medical and surgical management of eye diseases and disorders. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.).

Optometrist is an eye care professional trained to provide primary vision and eye care, and improves vision with eyeglasses, contact lenses, etc. An optometrist is an OD (Doctor of Optometry).

Refractive Surgeon is an ophthalmologist who is trained and certified to perform refractive procedures such as LASIK or PRK.

Refractive Technician is a trained and certified refractive surgery technician who assists the surgeon during the Laser Vision Correction procedure and is responsible for managing and programming the Excimer Laser and the maintenance of all surgical and other instruments utilized during the procedure.