COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS
Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary
UIC Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Listed as one of America’s
Best Hospitals for Ophthalmology
by U.S.News & World Report
Commonly Used
Ophthalmology
Abbreviations Alphabetical
A POCKET GUIDE FOR RESIDENTS
Compiled by: Bryan Kim, MD
COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS
education The Department of Ophthalmology accepts six residents
to its program each year, making it one of nation’s largest programs. We are
also one of the most competitive with well over 600 applicants annually, of
whom 84 are granted interviews. Our selection standards are among the
highest. Our incoming residents graduated from prestigious medical schools
including Brown, Northwestern, MIT, Cornell, University of Michigan, and
University of Southern California. GPA’s are typically 4.0 and board scores
are rarely lower than the 95th percentile. Most applicants have research
experience. In recent years our residents have gone on to prestigious
fellowships at UC Davis, University of Chicago, Northwestern, University
of Iowa, Oregon Health Sciences University, Bascom Palmer, Duke, UCSF,
Emory, Wilmer Eye Institute, and UCLA. Our tradition of excellence in
ophthalmologic education is reflected in the leadership positions held by
our alumni, who serve as chairs of ophthalmology departments, the dean
of a leading medical school, and the director of the National Eye Institute.
We continue to train the best and the brightest to become leaders in
ophthalmology.
Our fellowship programs in six subspecialties are also highly sought after.
Our fellows recently have accepted positions at Duke, Northwestern,
University of Texas at San Antonio, and Boston Medical Center, along with
other prestigious academic and private practice groups.
Our annual schedule of continuing medical education courses for practicing
ophthalmologists focuses on the treatment of difficult and complex cases.
Our annual Illinois Eye Review is a week-long, learner-centered program
providing participants with factual, conceptual and applied courses taught
by faculty selected for their outstanding contributions to the teaching and
practice of ophthalmology. The Illinois Eye Review stands apart from other
comprehensive ophthalmology reviews by offering a menu of courses that
allows participants to build a program around their individual needs and
learning styles.
© COPYRIGHT BRYAN KIM, md 2008
A/C or AC
anterior chamber
A1%
atropine 1%
ACC
anterior cortical changes/
cataract
Lens: Diagnoses/findings
ACG
angle closure glaucoma
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
ACIOL
Add
AION
anterior chamber intraocular
lens
amount of plus reading
power (for bifocal/progressives)
anterior ischemic optic
neuropathy
ALT
argon laser trabeculoplasty
AMD/
ARMD
AV
age-related macular degeneration
afferent papillary defect,
relative afferent papillary defect (I prefer APD because I
am not sure if the “relative”
is really needed)
APD by reverse testing/consensual response
autorefraction
artificial tears, preservativefree artificial tears
anterior vitreous
AVx
anterior vitrectomy
APD,
RAPD
ARx
AT, PFAT
Ax
University of Illinois at Chicago
BCVA
axis
[+/- number sphere] +
[number cylinder] x [0-180
axis]
best corrected visual acuity
Anterior chamber
Dilators (red top);
Drops/Meds
Lens
Refraction
Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
External
Refraction
Drops/Meds
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Refraction
Exam
COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS
BDR
background diabetic
retinopathy
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
BK
band keratopathy
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
BRVO
C/D
C/F
C/S
branch retinal artery
occlusion
branch retinal vein occlusion
cup/disc ratio
cell/flare (graded 1+ to 4+)
conjunctiva/sclera
C1
Cyclogyl (cyclopentolate) 1%
CB
CBB
cc
ciliary body
ciliary body band
with refractive correction
central corneal thickness/
pachymetry
cataract extraction
counts fingers (specify
distance)
BRAO
CCT/Pachy
CE
CF @ XX ft
CL/SCL/
HCL
CM
CME
CNV
CNVM
Exam
Other
Cyclomydril (for peds
patients)
cystoid macular edema
choroidal neovascularization
choroidal neovascular
membrane
Dilators (red top);
Drops/Meds
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
chronic open angle glaucoma
CPC
cyclophotocoagulation
CRVO
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Fundus exam
Anterior chamber
Slit lamp exam
Dilators (red top);
Drops/Meds
Anatomy
Gonioscopy
Exam
contact lens/soft .…/Hard .…
COAG
CRAO
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
central retinal artery
occlusion
central retinal vein occlusion
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
CRx
cycloplegic refraction
Cryo
cryotherapy
DBH
central serous chorioretinopathy
central, steady, maintained
clinically significant macular
edema (for diabetes)
confrontation visual fields
cotton wool spot
cylinder
deep and quiet
disc/macula/vessels/periphery
deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty
dot blot heme (hemorrhage)
DF
Descemet’s fold
DFE
Dilators
(red top)
dilated fundus exam
DLK
diffuse lamellar keratitis
E(T)
E
intermittent esotropia
esophoria
extracapsular cataract
extraction
CSCR
CSM
CSME
CVF
CWS
Cyl
D&Q
D/M/V/P
DALK
ECCE
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
epithelial defect
EKC
epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
EOG
electrooculogram
extraocular muscles/
movement
electroretinogram
EOM
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
ERG
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Exam
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
External
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Refraction
Anterior chamber
Fundus exam
Cornea : Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Cornea: Diagnoses/findings
Fundus exam
Drops/Meds
ED
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Refraction
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Cornea : Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Alignment
Alignment
Procedures/Lasers etc.
Cornea: Diagnoses/findings
Cornea: Diagnoses/findings
Tests
Tests
COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS
ERM
ET
F+F
FANG
epiretinal membrane
esotropia
fixes and follows
fluorescein angiography
Focal
focal laser photocoagulation
GCA
Giant cell arteritis
GVF
Goldmann visual field
HA
homatropine
HM @ XX
ft
hand motion (specify distance)
hypotropia
(add an apostrophe to indicate at near – eg. ET’ means
esotropia at near)
hypertropia
Humphrey visual field (usually 30-2; need to specify if
10-2 or red target, etc)
iris
intracapsular cataract extraction
HoT
HT
HVF
I
ICCE
IK
interstitial keratitis
IO
inferior oblique
ION
ischemic optic neuropathy
IOP
IR
intraocular pressure
inferior
intraretinal microvascular
anomalies
juvenile open angle glaucoma
cornea
IRMA
JOAG
K
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Alignment
Exam
Tests
Retina: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Tests
Dilators (red top);
Drops/Meds
KC or KCN
keratoconus
KCS
keratoconjunctivitis sicca
KP
keratic precipitate
L
L/L
Lag
lens
lids/lashes
lid lag
LASEK
laser epithelial keratomileusis
Exam
LASIK
laser in situ keratomileusis,
also laser-assisted in situ
keratomileusis (Hofstetter)
Alignment
LCA
Leber’s congenital amaurosis
LF
LP c
projection
LP s
projection
LP
LR
levator function
Leber’s hereditary optic
neuropathy
laser iridotomy/laser peripheral iridotomy
light perception with projection
light perception without
projection
light perception
lateral rectus
M1
Mydriacyl (tropicamide) 1%
MG
myasthenia gravis
MGD
MGP
meibomian gland dysfunction
meibomian gland plugging
membrane peel/membranectomy
Alignment
Tests
Iris
Procedures/Lasers etc.
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Anatomy
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
External
Anatomy
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
slit lamp exam
LHON
LI/LPI
MP/Mx
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Lens
Slit lamp exam
External
Cornea : Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Cornea : Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
External
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Exam
Exam
Exam
Anatomy
Dilators (red top);
Drops/Meds
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Lids: Diagnoses/findings
Lids: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS
MR
MRD1
MRD2
MRx
medial rectus
margin to reflex distance 1
margin to reflex distance 2
manifest refraction
MS
multiple sclerosis
NVD
NVE
Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine) 2.5% or 10%
nonarteritic ischemic optic
neuropathy
no improvement
no light perception
non-proliferative diabetic
retinopathy
near refraction
nuclear sclerosis
normal/low tension glaucoma
neovascularization of the
angle
neovascularization of the disc
neovascularization elsewhere
NVG
neovascular glaucoma
NVI
OD
neovascularization of the iris
OCT of nerve fiber layer
(optic nerve evaluation)
optical coherence tomography
right eye
OHT
ocular hypertension
OS
OU
PAS
left eye
both eyes
peripheral anterior synechiae
N2.5/N10
NAION
NI
NLP
NPDR
NRx
NS
NTG/LTG
NVA
OCT NFL
OCT
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
Anatomy
External
External
Refraction
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Dilators (red top);
Drops/Meds
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Exam
Exam
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Refraction
Lens: Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
PBK
PCC
PCIOL
PCO
PD
PDR
pseudophakic bullous keratopathy
posterior cortical changes
posterior chamber
posterior capsular opacity
(post-cataract patients)
pupillary distance or prism
diopter
proliferative diabetic retinopathy
PDT
photodynamic therapy
PEE
punctate epithelial erosion
PEK
punctate epithelial keratopathy/keratitis OR
photo-electronic keratoscope (Hofstetter)
palpebral fissure
pinhole visual acuity
phaco with anterior
chamber intraocular lens or
posterior chamber intraocular lens
phacoemulsification
pinhole no improvement
posterior ischemic optic
neuropathy
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
Iris
PF
PH
Phaco/
ACIOL or
Phaco/
PCIOL Phaco
PHNI
Tests
PION
Tests
PK
penetrating keratoplasty
PKP
penetrating keratoplasty
POAG/
OAG
primary open angle glaucoma/open angle glaucoma
presumed ocular histoplasmosis
Gonioscopy
Anatomy
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
Anatomy
Anatomy
Gonioscopy
POHS
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Lens: Diagnoses/findings
Lens
Lens: Diagnoses/findings
Refraction
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
External
Exam
Procedures/Lasers etc.
Procedures/Lasers etc.
Exam
Nerve/Neuro: Diagnoses/findings
Cornea: Diagnoses/findings
Cornea : Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS
PPA
peripapillary atrophy
PPV/Vx
pars plana vitrectomy/vitrectomy
PRK
photorefractive keratectomy
PRP
pan-retinal photocoagulation
PS
PSC
PVD
posterior synechiae (designate location/clock hours)
posterior subcapsular
cataract
posterior vitreous detachment
PXE
pseudoxanthoma elasticum
PXF
pseudoexfoliation
R/R
R
Rc
RD
RP
RPE
round/reactive
retinoscopy
cycloplegic retinoscopy
retinal detachment
retinitis pigmentosa
retinal pigment epithelium
SB scleral buckle
sc
SL
SLE
without refractive correction
Schwalbe’s line
slit lamp exam
superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis
selective laser trabeculoplasty
superior oblique
secondary open angle
glaucoma
SLK
SLT
SO
SOAG
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Cornea : Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Retina: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Iris
Lens: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
Iris
Refraction
Refraction
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
fundus exam
Retina: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Exam
Gonioscopy
Slit lamp exam
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Anatomy
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
TM
sphere
superficial punctate keratopathy/keratitis
superior rectus
subretinal neovascularization
subretinal neovascular
membrane
scleral spur
tonometry
applanation (Goldmann)
tonometry
trabecular meshwork
TON
traumatic optic neuropathy
Tp
pneumotonometer
Trab
trabeculectomy
TRD
UDFE
tractional detachment
undilated fundus exam
uveitis glaucoma hyphema
syndrome
visual acuity
visual field
vitreous hemorrhage
vitreomacular traction
warm compresses/lid scrubs
wearing Rx (currently worn
eyeglass/contact lens prescription)
intermittent exotropia
exophoria
exotropia
prism diopter
Sph
SPK
SR
SRNV
SRNVM
SS
T
Ta
UGH
Va
VF
VH
VMT
WC/LS
WRx
X(T)
X
XT
Δ
Refraction
Cornea: Diagnoses/
findings
Anatomy
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Gonioscopy
Tonometry
Tonometry
Gonioscopy
Nerve/Neuro:
Diagnoses/findings
tonometry
Glaucoma: Procedures/
Lasers etc.
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
fundus exam
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
findings
Exam
Tests
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Drops/Meds
Refraction
Alignment
Alignment
Alignment
Refraction
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES