Glossary

During treatment for eye conditions, you might come across terms you are not familiar with. These are some of the common technical terms you might hear. Remember to always ask for more information if something is not clear or you do not understand! We are always ready to answer your questions and explain things to you.

Aqueous humour: Fluid inside the front portion of the eye. This fluid is pumped into the eye by tissue called the ciliary body, and normally escapes via drainage channels called the trabecular meshwork. This fluid is completely separate from the tears and excessive tearing does not mean that the aqueous humour is draining well.

Conjunctiva: A thin transparent layer of skin covering the surface of the white of the eye.

Cornea: Transparent tissue at the front of the eye in front of the iris and lens.

Intraocular pressure: The pressure inside the eye. In glaucoma, high intraocular pressure is the main cause of damage to the optic nerve. This is usually measured in units known as mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In patients with normal tension glaucoma, lowering the eye pressure still slows the condition.

Mitomycin C: This is an anti-scarring drug that was originally used to treat cancer.

Optic nerve: The large nerve connecting the eye to the brain. The optic nerve carries all of the visual impulses from the eye. These are then translated by the brain into the images that we see.

Sclera: The wall of the eyeball itself. This is seen from the front as the white of the eye.