COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS

Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary Listed as one of America’s

Best Hospitals for Ophthalmology
UIC Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences by U.S.News & World Report

Commonly Used
Ophthalmology
Abbreviations Alphabetical

A POCKET GUIDE FOR RESIDENTS

Compiled by: Bryan Kim, MD
 COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS

A/C or AC anterior chamber Anterior chamber

Dilators (red top);
A1% atropine 1%
education The Department of Ophthalmology accepts six residents Drops/Meds
to its program each year, making it one of nation’s largest programs. We are anterior cortical changes/
also one of the most competitive with well over 600 applicants annually, of ACC Lens: Diagnoses/findings
cataract
whom 84 are granted interviews. Our selection standards are among the
highest. Our incoming residents graduated from prestigious medical schools
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
ACG angle closure glaucoma
including Brown, Northwestern, MIT, Cornell, University of Michigan, and findings
University of Southern California. GPA’s are typically 4.0 and board scores anterior chamber intraocular
are rarely lower than the 95th percentile. Most applicants have research ACIOL Lens
lens
experience. In recent years our residents have gone on to prestigious
fellowships at UC Davis, University of Chicago, Northwestern, University amount of plus reading
of Iowa, Oregon Health Sciences University, Bascom Palmer, Duke, UCSF, Add power (for bifocal/progres- Refraction
Emory, Wilmer Eye Institute, and UCLA. Our tradition of excellence in sives)
ophthalmologic education is reflected in the leadership positions held by anterior ischemic optic Nerve/Neuro: Diagno-
our alumni, who serve as chairs of ophthalmology departments, the dean AION
neuropathy ses/findings
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 Glaucoma: Procedures/
ALT argon laser trabeculoplasty
ophthalmology. Lasers etc.
AMD/ age-related macular degen-
Our fellowship programs in six subspecialties are also highly sought after. Retina: Diagnoses/findings
ARMD eration
Our fellows recently have accepted positions at Duke, Northwestern,
University of Texas at San Antonio, and Boston Medical Center, along with afferent papillary defect,
other prestigious academic and private practice groups. relative afferent papillary de-
fect (I prefer APD because I
Our annual schedule of continuing medical education courses for practicing APD,
am not sure if the “relative” External
ophthalmologists focuses on the treatment of difficult and complex cases. RAPD
is really needed)
Our annual Illinois Eye Review is a week-long, learner-centered program
APD by reverse testing/con-
providing participants with factual, conceptual and applied courses taught
by faculty selected for their outstanding contributions to the teaching and
sensual response
practice of ophthalmology. The Illinois Eye Review stands apart from other ARx autorefraction Refraction
comprehensive ophthalmology reviews by offering a menu of courses that artificial tears, preservative-
allows participants to build a program around their individual needs and AT, PFAT Drops/Meds
free artificial tears
learning styles.
AV anterior vitreous
Glaucoma: Procedures/
AVx anterior vitrectomy
Lasers etc.
axis
[+/- number sphere] +
© COPYRIGHT BRYAN KIM, md 2008 Ax Refraction
[number cylinder] x [0-180
University of Illinois at Chicago axis]
BCVA best corrected visual acuity Exam
 COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS

background diabetic CRx cycloplegic refraction Refraction

BDR Retina: Diagnoses/findings
retinopathy Glaucoma: Procedures/
Cryo cryotherapy
Cornea: Diagnoses/ Lasers etc.
BK band keratopathy
findings central serous chorioretin-
CSCR Retina: Diagnoses/findings
branch retinal artery opathy
BRAO Retina: Diagnoses/findings
occlusion CSM central, steady, maintained Exam
BRVO branch retinal vein occlusion Retina: Diagnoses/findings clinically significant macular
CSME Retina: Diagnoses/findings
C/D cup/disc ratio Fundus exam edema (for diabetes)
C/F cell/flare (graded 1+ to 4+) Anterior chamber CVF confrontation visual fields External
C/S conjunctiva/sclera Slit lamp exam CWS cotton wool spot Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Dilators (red top); Cyl cylinder Refraction
C1 Cyclogyl (cyclopentolate) 1%
Drops/Meds D&Q deep and quiet Anterior chamber
CB ciliary body Anatomy D/M/V/P disc/macula/vessels/periphery Fundus exam
CBB ciliary body band Gonioscopy deep anterior lamellar ker- Cornea : Procedures/
DALK
cc with refractive correction Exam atoplasty Lasers etc.
central corneal thickness/ DBH dot blot heme (hemorrhage) Retina: Diagnoses/findings
CCT/Pachy
pachymetry Cornea: Diagnoses/find-
DF Descemet’s fold
CE cataract extraction ings
counts fingers (specify DFE dilated fundus exam Fundus exam
CF @ XX ft Exam
distance) Dilators
Drops/Meds
CL/SCL/ (red top)
contact lens/soft .…/Hard .… Other
HCL Cornea : Procedures/
DLK diffuse lamellar keratitis
Cyclomydril (for peds Dilators (red top); Lasers etc.
CM
patients) Drops/Meds E(T) intermittent esotropia Alignment
CME cystoid macular edema Retina: Diagnoses/findings E esophoria Alignment
CNV choroidal neovascularization Retina: Diagnoses/findings extracapsular cataract
ECCE Procedures/Lasers etc.
choroidal neovascular extraction
CNVM Retina: Diagnoses/findings
membrane Cornea: Diagnoses/find-
ED epithelial defect
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/ ings
COAG chronic open angle glaucoma
findings Cornea: Diagnoses/find-
EKC epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
Glaucoma: Procedures/ ings
CPC cyclophotocoagulation
Lasers etc. EOG electrooculogram Tests
central retinal artery extraocular muscles/
CRAO Retina: Diagnoses/findings EOM
occlusion movement
CRVO central retinal vein occlusion Retina: Diagnoses/findings ERG electroretinogram Tests

UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES

 COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS

ERM epiretinal membrane Retina: Diagnoses/findings Cornea: Diagnoses/

KC or KCN keratoconus
ET esotropia Alignment findings
F+F fixes and follows Exam Cornea: Diagnoses/
KCS keratoconjunctivitis sicca
findings
FANG fluorescein angiography Tests
Cornea: Diagnoses/
Retina: Procedures/ KP keratic precipitate
Focal focal laser photocoagulation findings
Lasers etc.
L lens Lens
Nerve/Neuro:
GCA Giant cell arteritis L/L lids/lashes Slit lamp exam
Diagnoses/findings
GVF Goldmann visual field Tests Lag lid lag External
Dilators (red top); Cornea : Procedures/
HA homatropine LASEK laser epithelial keratomileusis
Drops/Meds Lasers etc.
HM @ XX hand motion (specify dis- laser in situ keratomileusis,
Exam Cornea : Procedures/
ft tance) LASIK also laser-assisted in situ
Lasers etc.
keratomileusis (Hofstetter)
hypotropia
(add an apostrophe to indi- Nerve/Neuro:
HoT Alignment LCA Leber’s congenital amaurosis
cate at near – eg. ET’ means Diagnoses/findings
esotropia at near) LF levator function External
HT hypertropia Alignment Leber’s hereditary optic Nerve/Neuro:
LHON
Humphrey visual field (usu- neuropathy Diagnoses/findings
HVF ally 30-2; need to specify if Tests laser iridotomy/laser pe- Glaucoma: Procedures/
LI/LPI
10-2 or red target, etc) ripheral iridotomy Lasers etc.
I iris Iris LP c light perception with projec-
Exam
intracapsular cataract extrac- projection tion
ICCE Procedures/Lasers etc.
tion LP s light perception without
Exam
Cornea: Diagnoses/ projection projection
IK interstitial keratitis
findings LP light perception Exam
IO inferior oblique Anatomy LR lateral rectus Anatomy
Nerve/Neuro: Dilators (red top);
ION ischemic optic neuropathy M1 Mydriacyl (tropicamide) 1%
Diagnoses/findings Drops/Meds
IOP intraocular pressure External Nerve/Neuro:
MG myasthenia gravis
IR inferior Anatomy Diagnoses/findings
intraretinal microvascular MGD meibomian gland dysfunction Lids: Diagnoses/findings
IRMA Retina: Diagnoses/findings
anomalies MGP meibomian gland plugging Lids: Diagnoses/findings
juvenile open angle glau- Glaucoma: Diagnoses/ membrane peel/mem- Retina: Procedures/
JOAG MP/Mx
coma findings branectomy Lasers etc.
K cornea slit lamp exam
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
 COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS

MR medial rectus Anatomy pseudophakic bullous ker- Cornea: Diagnoses/

PBK
MRD1 margin to reflex distance 1 External atopathy findings
MRD2 margin to reflex distance 2 External PCC posterior cortical changes Lens: Diagnoses/findings
MRx manifest refraction Refraction PCIOL posterior chamber Lens
Nerve/Neuro: posterior capsular opacity
MS multiple sclerosis PCO Lens: Diagnoses/findings
Diagnoses/findings (post-cataract patients)
Neo-Synephrine (phenyleph- Dilators (red top); pupillary distance or prism
N2.5/N10 PD Refraction
rine) 2.5% or 10% Drops/Meds diopter
nonarteritic ischemic optic Nerve/Neuro: proliferative diabetic retin-
NAION PDR Retina: Diagnoses/findings
neuropathy Diagnoses/findings opathy
NI no improvement Exam Retina: Procedures/
PDT photodynamic therapy
Lasers etc.
NLP no light perception Exam
Cornea: Diagnoses/
non-proliferative diabetic PEE punctate epithelial erosion
NPDR Retina: Diagnoses/findings findings
retinopathy
punctate epithelial keratopa-
NRx near refraction Refraction
thy/keratitis OR Cornea: Diagnoses/
NS nuclear sclerosis Lens: Diagnoses/findings PEK
photo-electronic kerato- findings
normal/low tension glau- Glaucoma: Diagnoses/ scope (Hofstetter)
NTG/LTG
coma findings PF palpebral fissure External
neovascularization of the PH pinhole visual acuity Exam
NVA Gonioscopy
angle
Phaco/ phaco with anterior
NVD neovascularization of the disc Retina: Diagnoses/findings ACIOL or chamber intraocular lens or
Procedures/Lasers etc.
NVE neovascularization elsewhere Retina: Diagnoses/findings Phaco/ posterior chamber intraocu-
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/ PCIOL  lar lens
NVG neovascular glaucoma
findings Phaco phacoemulsification Procedures/Lasers etc.
NVI neovascularization of the iris Iris PHNI pinhole no improvement Exam
OCT of nerve fiber layer posterior ischemic optic Nerve/Neuro: Diagno-
OCT NFL Tests PION
(optic nerve evaluation) neuropathy ses/findings
optical coherence tomog- Cornea: Diagnoses/find-
OCT Tests PK penetrating keratoplasty
raphy ings
OD right eye Anatomy Cornea : Procedures/
PKP penetrating keratoplasty
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/ Lasers etc.
OHT ocular hypertension
findings POAG/ primary open angle glau- Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
OS left eye Anatomy OAG coma/open angle glaucoma findings
OU both eyes Anatomy presumed ocular histoplas-
POHS Retina: Diagnoses/findings
mosis
PAS peripheral anterior synechiae Gonioscopy
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
 COMMON OPHTHALMOLOGY ABBREVIATIONS

Nerve/Neuro: Sph sphere Refraction

PPA peripapillary atrophy
Diagnoses/findings superficial punctate ker- Cornea: Diagnoses/
SPK
pars plana vitrectomy/vitrec- Retina: Procedures/ atopathy/keratitis findings
PPV/Vx
tomy Lasers etc. SR superior rectus Anatomy
Cornea : Procedures/ SRNV subretinal neovascularization Retina: Diagnoses/findings
PRK photorefractive keratectomy
Lasers etc.
subretinal neovascular
Retina: Procedures/ SRNVM Retina: Diagnoses/findings
PRP pan-retinal photocoagulation membrane
Lasers etc.
SS scleral spur Gonioscopy
posterior synechiae (desig-
PS Iris T tonometry Tonometry
nate location/clock hours)
applanation (Goldmann)
posterior subcapsular Ta Tonometry
PSC Lens: Diagnoses/findings tonometry
cataract
TM trabecular meshwork Gonioscopy
posterior vitreous detach-
PVD Retina: Diagnoses/findings Nerve/Neuro:
ment TON traumatic optic neuropathy
Diagnoses/findings
Nerve/Neuro:
PXE pseudoxanthoma elasticum Tp pneumotonometer tonometry
Diagnoses/findings
Glaucoma: Diagnoses/ Glaucoma: Procedures/
PXF pseudoexfoliation Trab trabeculectomy
findings Lasers etc.
R/R round/reactive Iris TRD tractional detachment Retina: Diagnoses/findings
R retinoscopy Refraction UDFE undilated fundus exam fundus exam
Rc cycloplegic retinoscopy Refraction uveitis glaucoma hyphema Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
UGH
syndrome findings
RD retinal detachment Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Va visual acuity Exam
RP retinitis pigmentosa Retina: Diagnoses/findings
VF visual field Tests
RPE retinal pigment epithelium fundus exam
VH vitreous hemorrhage Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Retina: Procedures/
SB  scleral buckle VMT vitreomacular traction Retina: Diagnoses/findings
Lasers etc.
sc without refractive correction Exam WC/LS warm compresses/lid scrubs Drops/Meds
SL Schwalbe’s line Gonioscopy wearing Rx (currently worn
WRx eyeglass/contact lens pre- Refraction
SLE slit lamp exam Slit lamp exam
scription)
superior limbic keratocon- Cornea: Diagnoses/
SLK X(T) intermittent exotropia Alignment
junctivitis findings
X exophoria Alignment
selective laser trabeculo- Glaucoma: Procedures/
SLT XT exotropia Alignment
plasty Lasers etc.
SO superior oblique Anatomy Δ prism diopter Refraction
secondary open angle Glaucoma: Diagnoses/
SOAG
glaucoma findings
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
UIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES