Abbreviations in Clinical Optometry
In optometric practice the use of abbreviations or acronyms facilitates quick and accurate record
taking. So that any optometrist can read a record easily and quickly, commonly used abbreviations
should be utilised and there should be continuity of abbreviations from one record card to another.
There should be no ambiguity of meaning.
The following list provides some of the more commonly used abbreviations and acronyms in
optometric practice. There is no obligation for practitioners to use these, but it is hoped that they
may be useful as a guide so that there is uniformity of abbreviation use between practitioners.
References
1. Millodot M. Dictionary of optometry. 3rd edition. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 1994.
2. National Health & Medical Research Council. Management of Diabetic Retinopathy - Clinical
Practice Guidelines June 1997. Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services
3. Woolf PL, Giese MJ, Stelmack TR, McMahon TT, Berman MS. Optometric Clinical
abbreviations. J Am Optom Assoc 1994; 65: 480-487.
4. www.college-optometrists.org/objects_store/1125480552563.pdf
Abbreviation
φ
Θ
c
0 symptoms
0.5 Tro STD
s
α
λ
κ
µm
∆
∆
∴
=
~ or ≈
>
<
↑
↓
A/c
AC
AC 4/4
AC 3/4
AC 2/4
AC 1/4
AC 0/4
AC/A
ACC
Acc
ACG
Add
ADD
ADHD
AIDS
AION
AIT
Meaning
horizontal orthophoria
horizontal and vertical orthophoria
vertical orthophoria
with (cum)
zero symptoms
0.5% tropicamide, 1 drop applied to each eye per standard routine
without (sine)
angle alpha
angle lambda; wavelength
angle kappa
-6
micron (10 m)
change or change in
prism (dioptres)
therefore
equals
approximately
greater than
less than
increase in
decrease in
aftercare visit
anterior chamber; anomalous correspondence (formerly ARC)
grade 4 anterior chamber angle
grade 3 anterior chamber angle
grade 2anterior chamber angle
grade 1 anterior chamber angle
grade 0 anterior chamber angle (closed)
Accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio
anterior cortical cataract
accommodation
angle closure glaucoma
addition (lenses)
Attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy
after-image transfer
ALT
ALT SOT
ALT XOT
AMD
amp
Ant
APD
approx
ARC
Arg
ARM or ARMD
ASAP
Astig
ATR
A/V
bal
BC
BCC
BCOD
BCOR
BCVA
Bd (also bid)
BD, BDP or BD∆
BDR
BE
BF
BI, BIP or BI∆
Bid (also bd)
binoc
BIO
bleph
BO, BOP or BO∆
BOZD
BOZR
BP
BRAO
BRVO
BU, BUP or BU∆
Bul
BUT
BV
BVD
BVP
Cal Bk
CA/C
Cat(s)
CB
CD
C/D
CENTn
CF
CFF
CL
alternating
alternating esotropia
alternating exotropia
age-related macular degeneration (also ARM and ARMD)
amplitude
anterior
afferent pupillary defect
approximately
anomalous retinal (cortical) correspondence
Argon Laser
age-related macular degeneration; age-related maculopathy,
preceded by ‘exudative’ or ‘atrophic’ (also AMD)
as soon as possible
astigmatism
against the rule astigmatism
arteriole/venule ratio
balance
base curve
basal cell carcinoma
back central optic diameter
back central optic radius
best corrected visual acuity
twice a day
base down prism (followed by R or L to indicate right or left eye
respectively)
background diabetic retinopathy
both eyes
bifocal(s)
base-in prism (may be followed by R or L to indicate right or left
eye respectively)
two times a day (bis in die)
binocular
binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy
blepharitis
base-out prism (may be followed by R or L to indicate right or left
eye respectively)
back optic zone diameter
back optic zone radius
blood pressure
branch retinal artery occlusion
branch retinal vein occlusion
base up prism (followed by R or L to indicate right or left eye
respectively)
bulbar
break-up time (of the tear film)
binocular vision
back vertex distance
back vertex power
‘Calendar Book’ eye exercise – accommodative rock
convergence-accommodation ratio
cataract(s)
ciliary body
centration distance
cup to disc ratio
centration
count fingers (note: CF 20´(at 20 feet) 20/400); CF 6m (at 6
metres) 6/120);
also central fixation
critical fusion (or flicker) frequency
contact lens (HCL-hard, SCL-soft, EWCL-extended wear, RGP-
CLAPC
CMO (CME)
CMV
CN (followed by
numeral)
CNS
C/o
COAG
Conj
conv
CPR
CRAO
CRVO
CSF
CSME
CSR
CT
CVA
CW
CWS
cyclop (%)
Cyl
dB
D
DAF
DC
DD
DDT
DFE
diam
dist
Dk/L
D/L
DM
DOB
DPA
DR
DS
DV
D/V
DVA
DVD
DW
Dx
EBMD
ECCE
ECG
EEG
EF
ELISA
EOG
EOM
ERG
ERM
ESE
Eso or esop
rigid gas permeable)
contact lens associated papillary conjunctivitis
cystic macular oedema (edema)
cytomegalovirus
cranial nerve eg. CNIII
central nervous system
complains of
chronic open angle glaucoma
conjunctiva
convergence
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
central retinal artery occlusion
central retinal vein occlusion
contrast sensitivity function,
also cerebro spinal fluid
clinically significant macular (o)edema
Central serous retinopathy
cover test
cerebral vascular accident
close work
Cotton wool spot(s)
cyclopentolate, % used
cylinder (also C when following D(ioptre))
decibel
dioptre
also distance
diagnostic action fields
dioptres cylinder
disc diameter (usually preceded by a number to indicate distance
or size in terms of disc diameters)
Dyslexia Determination Test
dilated fundus examination
diameter
distance
oxygen transmissibility of a contact lens
driver’s licence
diabetes mellitus
date of birth
diagnostic pharmaceutical agent
diabetic retinopathy
dioptres sphere
distance vision
double vision
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
dissociated vertical divergence
daily wear
diagnosis
epithelial basement membrane dystrophy
extracapsular cataract extraction
electrocardiogram
electroencephalogram
eccentric fixation
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
electrooculogram
extra-ocular muscles
electroretinogram
epiretinal membrane
explained side effects
esophoria
(sometimes EP or
S)
ESR
ET or esot
etc
EW
exop or X
exot
Ext
FA
fac
FAZ
fap
FB
FBS (cornea)
FD
FDR
FF
FH
Fl
FMH
fMRI
FOH
FOL
FOZD
F/U
FVP
GH
GI
Glauc
Gonio
GP
GPC
gt
gtt or gutt
HA
Haem
HARC
HCL
HEx
HIV
HLA
HM
hor
hr(s) or H
HRT
HSV
ht (seg)
H/T
HVID
Hx
hyperp
hypert
hypop
hypot
ICCE
ICE
IGT
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
esotropia (preceded by R or L to designate right or left)
et cetera
extended wear (EWSL-extended wear contact lens; EWSCLextended wear soft contact lens)
exophoria
exotropia
external
fluorescein angiography
facility
foveal avascular zone
contact lens fit as previously noted
foreign body
foreign body scar
fixation disparity
Florid diabetic retinopathy (now seen rarely)
foveal fixation
family history
fluorescein
family medical history
functional magnetic resonance imaging
family ocular history
follicles
front optic zone diameter
follow-up appointment
front vertex power
general health
gastrointestinal
glaucoma
gonioscopy
general practitioner
giant papillary conjunctivitis
drop
Drops (guttae)
headache
haemorrhage
harmonious abnormal retinal correspondence
hard contact lens
lipid (hard) exudate(s)
human immunodeficiency virus
human leucocytic antigen eg. HLA B27
hand movements
horizontal
hour(s)
Hormone replacement therapy,
also Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph
herpes simplex virus
height (segment)
hypertension
horizontal visible iris diameter
history
hyperphoria
hypertropia
hypophoria
hypotropia
intracapsular cataract extraction
irido-corneal-endothelial syndrome
impaired glucose tolerance
inf
Inj
INO
Int
IO
IOL
ION
IOP
IPC
IR
IRMA
IV
K
KCS
KP
L
LE
LH
LHON
LHyperT
LHypoT
LHP (also L/R)
logMAR
LOs
LP
LR
L/R (also LHP)
L/RFD
LSOT
LTG
LV
LVA
LXOT
Ma
Mac
Max
MDU
Meds
MEM
Min
MNU
MR
MRI
MS
MVA
M.Wing
MWT
N
Na
N/A
NAD
NAG
inferior
injection or injected
internuclear ophthalmoplegia
internal or intermittent
inferior oblique muscle;
also intraocular;
also indirect ophthalmoscopy
intraocular lens
ischaemic optic neuropathy
intraocular pressure
inferior palpebral conjunctiva
inferior rectus muscle (preceded by R or L to indicate right and left
respectively)
intra-retinal microvascular abnormalities
intravenous
keratometry reading
keratoconjunctivitis sicca
keratic precipitates
left
left eye
left hypertropia
Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy
left hypertropia
left hypotropia
left hyperphoria
logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution; logMAR chart
(acuity)
lenticular opacities
light perception (acuity) mark (+) or (-) in the quadrant tested
lateral rectus muscle (preceded by R or L to indicate right and left
respectively)
left hyperphoria
L/R fixation disparity
left esotropia
low tension glaucoma
low vision
low vision aids
left exotropia
Microaneurysm(s)
macula or macular
maximum
Mallett distance unit
medications
monocular estimate method
minimum,
also minute(s) (also m)
Mallett near unit
medial rectus (preceded by R or L to indicate right and left
respectively)
also Maddox rod
magnetic resonance imaging
multiple sclerosis
motor vehicle accident
Maddox wing
maximum wearing time
near
sodium
not applicable (also NA)
no abnormality detected (or no apparent defect)
narrow angle glaucoma
NC
N/C
NCT
ND
Neg
NFL
NLP
No I/S (POH)
Nocte
NPA
NPC
NPDR
NRC
NS
NTG
NV
NVD
NVE
NVI
NVP
NWT
OAD
OAG
Obj
Occ
Occ.
OCs
OD
OKN
OMB
ON
ONH
Oph
OR
ORTHO-K
OS
OU
OZD
PAL
PALC
PAP
PC
PCC
PD
PDR
PDS
PERRLA
PES or PXF
PGX
PH
phaco
PHNI
pilo
ping
PK
PL
PMMA
normal correspondence
no charge
non-contact tonometer
neutral density filter
negative
nerve fibre layer
no light perception
no eye injuries/surgery
at night
near point of accommodation
near point of convergence
non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (preceded by minimal, mild,
moderate or severe)
normal retinal correspondence
nuclear sclerosis
normal tension glaucoma
near vision
new vessels on the (optic) disc
new vessels elsewhere (other than the disc)
new vessels on the iris
near vision point
normal wearing time
overall diameter (contact lens)
open angle glaucoma
objective
ointment
Occupation
optical centres
right eye (oculus dexter)
also overall diameter
optokinetic nystagmus
oculo-motor balance
optic nerve (neuropathy)
optic nerve head
ophthalmoscopy
over refraction
orthokeratology
left eye (oculus sinister)
also overall size
both eyes (oculus uterque)
optic zone diameter
progressive addition lenses
per age lenticular changes
papillae
peripheral curve
posterior cortical cataract
interpupillary distance
proliferative diabetic retinopathy
pigment dispersion syndrome
pupils equal, round, responsive to light and accommodation
pseudoexfoliation syndrome
grey photochromic (lenses)
pinhole
phacoemulcification
pinhole no improvement
pilocarpine
pingueculae
penetrating keratoplasty
perception of light
polymethyl methacrylate
POAG
POH
Pos
post
POST-OP
PPA
ppconv
PPDR
PPM
PRC
PRE-OP
prev
PRK
PRN
PRP(C)
PSC or PSCC
Pt or Px
pteryg
PTK
PUT
PVD
Px
PXF
PXM
Q (q)
qd
QID or qid
R
RAPD
RB
RBC
RD
re:
RE
Ret
rev
RGP
RH or RHyperT
RHP
RHypoT
RK
RNFL
ROP
RP
RPE
RSOT
RWR
Rx
RXOT
SCC
SCL
SD
SE
SEAL
seg
SEM
sl
SL
S/L
SLE
primary open angle glaucoma
previous ocular history
positive
postenor
post-operative
peripapillary atrophy
proximal point of convergence
preproliferative diabetic retinopathy
persistent pupillary membrane
positive relative convergence
pre-operative
previous
photorefractive keratectomy
as necessary (pro re nata)
pan-retinal photocoagulation
posterior subcapsular cataract
patient
pterygium
phototherapeutic keratectomy
push-up test
posterior vitreous detachment
patient
pseudoexfoliation
pseudoexfoliative material
every (eg. Q2H = every 2 hours)
Once per day
four times daily (or x4) (quarter in die)
right
Relative afferent pupil defect
rose bengal
red blood cells
retinal detachment
regarding
right eye
retinoscopy
review
rigid gas permeable
right hypertropia
right hyperphoria
right hypotropia
radial keratotomy
retinal nerve fibre layer
retinopathy of prematurity (old term RLF)
retinitis pigmentosa
retinal pigment epithelium
right esotropia
ring when ready
(take) prescription
right exotropia
squamous cell carcinoma
soft contact lens
standard deviation
sore eyes
superior epithelial arcuate lesion
segment
scanning electron microscopy
slightly
Schwalbe’s line
slit lamp
systemic lupus erythematosus
SLK
SLO
SM
SMD
SO
SOAG
SOP
SOT
SPC
Sph
SPK
SR
SRNVN
SS
STD
STI
STRAB
subj
SV
SVD
SVN
TBUT
Tc
Tds also TID
Te
tear/supps
TEM
TF
TIA
TID also tds
TM
TPA
Trop (%)
TVAS
TWT
Tx
Type 1 DM
Type 2 DM
UBM
UCVA
URTI
UV
V
VA
VAL
VAR
VB
VD
VDU
VEP
ver
VER
verg
VF
V/H
Vis
vis hyg
or slit-lamp examination
superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis
scanning laser ophthalmoscope
spectacle magnification
senile macular degeneration (no longer used; see ARM)
superior oblique muscle (preceded by R or L to indicate right and
left respectively)
secondary open angle glaucoma
esophoria
exotropia
superior palpebral conjunctiva
sphere (also S after D(ioptre))
superficial punctate keratitis
superior rectus (preceded by R or L to indicate right and left
respectively)
subretinal neovascularisation
scleral spur
standard; sexually transmitted disease
sexually transmitted infection
strabismus
subjective
single vision (lenses)
single vision distance
single vision near
tear break up time
centre thickness
three times a day
edge thickness
tear supplements
transmission electron microscopy
tri-focals
transient ischaemic attack
three (3) times a day
trabecular meshwork
therapeutic pharmaceutical agent
Tropicamide (% used)
Test of Visual Analysis Skills
today wearing time
treatment
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
upgaze blink movement
uncorrected visual acuity
upper respiratory tract infection
ultraviolet
vision
visual acuity
left visual acuity (corrected)
right visual acuity (corrected)
venous beading
venereal disease
visual display unit(s)
visual evoked potential
vertical
visual evoked response
vergence
visual field
van Herick
vision
visual hygiene
Vit
VPA
VPS
W-4-D
w/o
WD
wk(s)
WNL
WT
WTR
WTT
Xcyl
XO
XOP
XOT
XT
X/12
X/52
X/7
y/o
YAG
yr(s)
vitreous
vertical palpebral aperture
variable prism stereoscope
Worth 4 dot
without
working distance
week(s)
within normal limits
wearing time
with-the-rule astigmatism
wearing time today
cross cyl
exophoria (also exo)
exophoria
exotropia
exotropia (preceded by R or L to designate right or left)
x months
x weeks
x days
year old
Yttrium aluminium garnet (laser)
year(s)