Dry Eye Disease Terminology
Dry Eye Disease has a vocabulary all its own. To ensure that communications are effective and accurate, it is important that everyone involved use the appropriate terms correctly.
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- Blepharitis – A common ocular condition characterized by inflammation, scaling, reddening and rusting of the eyelid.
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- Chronic Disease – A health condition that is persistent or long-lasting.
- Conjunctiva – The thin, highly vascularized tissue layer lining the inside of the eyelids.
- Conjunctival Staining – An imaging process that shows the distribution of tear fluid over the conjunctiva.
- Corneal Vascularization – The excessive formation of blood vessels within the cornea. Often attributed to long-term contact lens wear.
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- Demodex – A family of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles, including eye lashes.
- DEWS – Also known as the Dry Eye Workshop, the DEWS II panel created a contemporary evidence-based definition for Dry Eye Disease.
- Disease Progression – A disease or condition that continues to grow or spread.
- Distichiasis – A rare disorder where there is abnormal growth of eye lashes from the Meibomian glands.
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- Epithelial Damage or Defect – A common ocular condition resulting from, among other etiologies, corneal dryness.
- Epitheliopathy – A disease of the epithelium.
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- Filamentary Keratitis – A condition where degenerated epithelial cells adhere to the corneal surface due to changes in the tear film.
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- Goblet Cell – Epithelial cells that secrete mucins.
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- Hemostasis – A process that halts blood loss.
- Hyperosmolarity – The level of solubility determines how a solution will diffuse across a membrane. Hyperosmolarity means there are insufficient densities of liquid in a concentration.
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- Lacrimal Damage – Disruption to the natural secretion of tears.
- Lacrimal Flow – The natural flow of tears in the eye.
- Lacrimal Nerve – Provides sensory information for the lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, and upper eyelids.
- Lacrimation – The secretion of tears.
- Lid Apposition – The accurate side-by-side placement of the upper and lower eyelids.
- Lid Flora – A collection of fungi or bacteria on the lid.
- Lipid Layer – The lipid layer forms the double-layered surface of cells.
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- Madarosis – A condition that results in the loss of eyelashes and, at times, eyebrows.
- Meibomian Gland Dysfunction – Also known as MGD. A blockage of abnormality of the Meibomian glands. A leading cause of Dry Eye Disease.
- Meibomian Glands – A special kind of sebaceous glands at the rim of the eyelids that supply meibum.
- Meibum – An oily substance that prevents evaporation of tear film.
- Multifactorial – A number of different factors or causes involved.
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- Neurologic Innervation – Stimulation of the cranial nerve which is directly responsible for innervation of the lacrimal functional unit (LFU), including the Meibomian glands, goblet cells and lacrimal and accessory lacrimal glands.
- Neurosensory – Relating to the sensory activity or functions of the nervous system.
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- Ocular Allergy – An allergic irritation of the conjunctiva.
- Ocular Inflammation – Inflammation of the uvea, or middle layer of the eye.
- Ocular Surface Disease – A number of conditions constitute ocular surface disease, including: Dry Eye syndrome, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, blepharitis, rosacea, allergies, scarring from glaucoma medications, chemical burns, thermal burns, and immunological conditions such as Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid and Sjogren’s Syndrome.
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- Pannus – An abnormal layer of tissue over the cornea.
- Pinguecula – A deposit of protein, fat, or calcium on the conjunctiva.
- Poliosis – The decrease or absence of color in eyebrows, eyelashes or any other hairy area.
- Pterygium – An elevated, wedged-shaped bump on the eyeball that starts on the white of the eye (sclera) and can invade the cornea.
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- Redundant Bulbar Conjunctiva – Also known as Conjunctivochalasis, this is a common eye surface condition characterized by the presence of excess folds of the conjunctiva located between the globe of the eye and the eyelid margin. This may be a cause of blurred vision, mucous discharge, dryness, ocular fatigue, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and eye stiffness.
- Refractive Surgery – Surgical procedures that correct common vision problems (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia) to reduce dependence on prescription eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.
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- Salzman’s Nodular Degeneration – Also known as SND. A progressive eye condition that occurs in patients with chronically dry eyes and chronic blepharitis.
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- Tear Film – The outer layer is an oil- or lipid-based layer, which helps reduce evaporation of the natural tears.
- Tear Film Instability – Damage to corneal epithelial cells means depletions of the mucins on the eye’s surface, which in turn leads to Tear Film Instability.
- Trichiasis – An eyelash-related irritation that results from ocular surface inflammation.
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- Xerophthalmia – A pathologic dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea.
Coming Soon: Enhanced Clinical Education for Dry Eye Access Members
In October 2018, we will open members-only access to online clinical education, practice resources, and implementation tools that will help your practice adhere to a uniform approach of diagnosing and treating Dry Eye Disease.