Medical dictionary

What are multifocal contact lenses? Multifocal contact lenses are a type of contact lens which combine multiple prescriptions in one lens. They are mainly prescribed for people with age-related presbyopia, a condition which causes your short-distance vision to become blurred. By looking through different parts of the lens, you can see close objects clearly, as well as objects at a distance.

What is myopia? Myopia means short-sightedness. People with myopia cannot see things clearly in the distance without wearing glasses or contact lenses, but can see things clearly at close range. Myopia is usually caused by the eyeball growing a little longer than it should. Over the past fifty years, the proportion of people with myopia in the general population has doubled. Now around twent

What is neck lift surgery?Neck lift surgery is an aesthetic surgical intervention used to rejuvenate the neck, where wrinkles and excess skin usually form and some may wish to correct. This operation is performed under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation.Why would you have neck lift surgery?Sagging and flaccidity of the skin are common with ageing. Ageing starts to visibly affec

What is neuromyelitis optica? Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), which is also known as Devic's disease, is an extremely rare central nervous system disorder that affects the spinal cord and optic nerves.   What can the disorder cause or lead to? Neuromyelitis optica can cause blindness, weakness, paralysis, nerve pain, and muscle spasms.   Who is most at risk?

What is it? Neuro-ophthalmology is a field of medicine which studies and treats diseases of the nervous system that affect the visual system. This includes analysing ocular motility, the functionality of cranial nerves and of all the other nervous structures coordinating eye movement, which are integrated with other sensory systems. Neuro-ophthalmology is a clinical and scientific subspecial

What is nystagmus? Nystagmus is an ophthalmological condition characterised by an involuntary, repetitive movement of the eyes. The velocity of the movement varies, from fast to slow, and generally both eyes are affected. Nystagmus can be classified into different groups: Neurological nystagmus is related to the central nervous system; it can occur after different diseases, such as a brai

What is OCT (optical coherence tomography)? An optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan is an imaging test that uses low coherence light beams analyse different sections of the human body, obtaining highly precise and reliable pictures of several levels of tissue. This scan is primarily used in ophthalmology (to study the cornea and retina) and cardiology (to assess the state of the blood vessel

What is ocular hypertension? Ocular hypertension occurs when the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) is higher than normal. This pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is considered normal when it is between 10-21mmHg. It should be noted that intraocular pressure increases with age.Although ocular hypertension often does not cause any symptoms, if left untreated&

What is ocular melanoma? Ocular melanoma is a form of cancer that affects melanin, the cells responsible for producing pigment in the body. Although this disease is rare, it is the most common type of cancer that affects the eyes. It can affect all parts of this organ, especially hard-to-access parts that make detection difficult. This is why it is essential to have regular eye examinations.