GLOSSARY OF CONTACT LENS TERMS

Term	Definition
Addition	A figure used to determine the additional prescription strength needed for correcting near vision for those with presbyopia.
Acuvue	A brand of contact lenses manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.
Air Optix	A brand of contact lenses manufactured by Ciba Vision.
Astigmatism	Is a condition of the eye caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea, resulting in blurred and unfocused vision.
Axis	A value that determines the direction needed to correct astigmatism on a contact lens or glasses prescription.
Base Curve	The curvature of a contact lens in millimetres used to determine the fit of the lens on the eye.
Bausch & Lomb	Healthcare manufacturers of contact lenses, lens solutions and eye drops.
Bifocal	A lens that contains two prescriptions, often distance at the top and reading at the bottom.
Biofinity	A contact lens brand by CooperVision
Ciba Vision	A manufacturer of contact lenses.
Coloured contact lens	A lens tinted or coloured for wear.
CooperVision	A manufacturer of contact lenses.
Cornea	Is the front part of the eye, which covers the iris and the pupil it is transparent and helps protect the eye from dust, germs and other harmful matter.
Cosmetic contact lens	A lens tinted with colour or with a fashionable design such as country flags, or movie eyes.
Cylinder	A figure required for patients with astigmatism that shows what level of correction is needed.
Daily disposable contact lens	Is a lens designed to be worn for one day and then disposed of.
Deposits	Are debris or protein build up on the lens surface.
Diameter	The distance in millimetres from one end of a contact lens to the other. A value used in a prescription.
Dioptre	A unit of measurement used in optics to determine the refractive power of a lens.
Disinfectant solution	A solution used to disinfect contact lenses.
Dominant	A value required for multifocal contact lenses to determine which the dominant eye is referred to as the “D” value. The non-dominant is referred to as “N”.
Enzyme cleaner	A solution used to remove protein from the lens surface, can also occur in tablet form, in which the tablet is mixed with saline or disinfecting solution as directed.
Extended wear	A contact lens designed for extended wear, is one that can be worn overnight.
Fashion conctact lens	A lens tinted with colour or with a fashionable design such as country flags, or movie eyes.
Focus dailies	A brand of contact lenses produced by Ciba Vision.
Glaucoma	A condition which causes gradual sight loss due to pressure within the eye.
Hyperopia (long-sightedness)	The loss of near vision but the ability to see into the distance clearly.
Iris	The coloured portion of the eye.
Long-sightedness	See Hyperopia.
Monthly Disposable (Monthlies)	Is a lens designed to be worn daily for a month and then disposed of.
Multifocal	A lens that corrects both short and long-sightedness, by using two different surface areas to correct near and distance vision.
Myopia	The loss of distance vision but the ability to see objects up-close clearly.
Ophthalmologist	A medical doctor that specialises in the treatment and diagnosis of eye diseases, and who is licensed to perform eye surgery.
Optician	A medical practitioner licensed to fit and supply glasses and contact lenses.
Optometrist (OD)	A medical practitioner trained to fit and supply glasses and contact lenses, as well as diagnose and treat certain eye diseases.
Oxygen permeability	The level of oxygen that can pass through the lens surface to the eye.
Piano	A contact lens made without a prescription usually for cosmetic use, such as a coloured contact lens.
Power	The value used to determine the strength of visual correction needed. This is sometimes referred to as the sphere.
Presbyopia	A degenerative condition of the eye that affects the near vision, it usually occurs in those over the age of 40's.
Proclear	A contact lens brand produced by CooperVision.
PureVision	A brand of contact lenses manufactured by Bausch & Lomb.
RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable)	A rigid lens made from a harder material than soft lenses, usually prescribed for patients with an astigmatism or irregular eye shape as they are thought to be better at correcting vision in these cases.
Rinsing solution	A lens solution used to clean the lens before wear.
Rewetting solution	A solution used to rewet the lens to increase comfort during wear.
Solution	A liquid solution designed to rinse, clean and store soft or gas permeable contact lenses.
Short-sightedness	See Myopia.
Silicone hydrogel	Is an advanced soft lens material that allows more oxygen to reach they eye than traditional soft hydrogel lenses.
SofLens	A brand of contact lenses produced by Bausch & Lomb.
Sphere	The value used to determine the strength of visual correction needed. This is sometimes referred to as the power.
Toric	A contact lens used for correcting astigmatism in patients.
Two weekly disposable	Frequent replacement lenses designed for wear daily over a two week period before they should be disposed of.
RX	Prescription
Visibility tint	A light tint to the contact lens that helps the wearer with handling.

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