Ablate in surgery, is to remove.

Ablation zone the area of tissue that is removed during laser surgery.

Accommodation the ability of the eye to change its focus from distant objects to near objects.

Acuity clearness, or sharpness of vision.

Astigmatism a distortion of the image on the retina caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens.

Cornea the clear, front part of the eye. The cornea is the first part of the eye that bends (or refracts) the light and provides most of the focusing power.

Diopter the measurement of refractive error. A negative diopter value signifies an eye with myopia and positive diopter value signifies an eye with hyperopia.

Dry Eye Syndrome a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears to keep the eye moist and comfortable. Common symptoms of dry eye include pain, stinging, burning, scratchiness, and intermittent blurring of vision.

Endothelium the inner layer of cells on the inside surface of the cornea.

Epithelium the outermost layer of cells of the cornea and the eye's first defense against infection.

Excimer laser an ultraviolet laser used in refractive surgery to remove corneal tissue.

Farsightedness the common term for hyperopia.

FDA the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. It is the United States governmental agency responsible for the evaluation and approval of medical devices.

Flap & Zap a slang term for LASIK.

Ghost Image a fainter second image of the object you are viewing.

Glare scatter from bright light that decreases vision.

Halos are rings around lights due to optical imperfections in or in front of the eye.

Haze corneal clouding that causes the sensation of looking through smoke or fog.

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Higher order aberrations refractive errors, other than nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, that cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts.

Hyperopia the inability to see near objects as clearly as distant objects, and the need for accommodation to see distant objects clearly.

Inflammation the body's reaction to trauma, infection, or a foreign substance, often associated with pain, heat, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function.

Informed Consent Form a document disclosing the risks, benefits, and alternatives to a procedure.

In Situ a Latin term meaning "in place" or not removed.

Iris the colored ring of tissue suspended behind the cornea and immediately in front of the lens.

Keratectomy the surgical removal of corneal tissue.

Keratotomy a surgical incision (cut) of the cornea.

Keratitis inflammation of the cornea.

Kerato prefix indicating relationship to the cornea.

Keratoconus a disorder characterized by an irregular corneal surface (cone-shaped) resulting in blurred and distorted images.

Keratomileusis carving of the cornea to reshape it.

Laser the acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A laser is an instrument that produces a powerful beam of light that can vaporize tissue.

LASIK the acronym for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis which refers to creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and using a laser to reshape the underlying cornea.

Lens a part of the eye that provides some focusing power. The lens is able to change shape allowing the eye to focus at different distances.

Microkeratome a surgical device that is affixed to the eye by use of a vacuum ring. When secured, a very sharp blade cuts a layer of the cornea at a predetermined depth.