Skip to Content
For outsiders, the amount of abbreviations ophthalmologists use can be mystifying. Thankfully, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has put together the following guide for optometrists and PCPs.
AC
ALT
APD, RAPD
ARMD, AMD
ASC
Anterior chamber
Argon laser trabeculoplasty
(Relative) Afferent pupillary defect
Age-related macular degeneration
Anterior subcapsular cataract
BDR
BRAO
BRVO
BSCL
Background diabetic retinopathy
Branch retinal artery occlusion
Branch retinal vein occlusion
Bandage soft contact lens
CACG
cC
CE/IOL
CF
C3F8

CL
COAG
CNVM, CNV
CPC
CRAO
CRS
CRVO
CSME
CSR, CSCR
Chronic angle-closure glaucoma
With correction
Cataract extraction with intraocular lens implant
Count fingers
Perfluoropropane (gas)
Contact lens
Chronic open-angle glaucoma
Choroidal neovascular membrane
Cyclophotocoagulation
Central retinal artery occlusion
Chorioretinal scar
Central retinal vein occlusion
Clinically significant macular edema
Central serous (chorio) retinopathy
DCR
DES
DR
DSAEK
Dacryocystorhinostomy
Dry eye syndrome
Diabetic retinopathy
Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty
E
ECCE
EKC
EL
ERM
ET
E(T)
Esophoria
Extracapsular cataract extraction
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
Endolaser
Epiretinal membrane
Esotropia
Intermittent esotropia
FAX, AFx
FTCF
Fluid-air exchange
Full to count fingers
HM
HSV
HVF
HZO
Hand motion
Herpes simplex virus
Humphrey visual field
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
IOL
IOP
IRMA
Intraocular lens
Intraocular pressure
Intraretinal microvascular abnormality
KPs Keratic precipitates
LASIK
LHT
LP
LPI
Laser in situ keratomileusis
Left hypertropia
Light perception
Laser peripheral iridotomy
MA
MH
MP
MR
Microaneurysm
Macular hole
Membrane peeling or macular pucker
Manifest refraction
NLP
NPDR
NS
NVA
NVD
NVE
NVG
NVI
No light perception
Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
Nuclear sclerosis
Neovascularization of the angle
Neovascularization at disc
Neovascularization elsewhere
Neovascular glaucoma
Neovascularization of iris (rubeosis iridis)
OD
OGR
OS
OU
Oculus dexter (right eye)
Open globe repair
Oculus sinister (left eye)
Oculus uterque (both eyes)
PACG
PAS
PC
PCO
PDR
PED
PEE
PERRL(A)
PH
PK, PKP
POAG
POHS
PPA
PPL
PPV
PRK
PRP
PS
PSC
PTK
PVD
PVR
PXG
PXS
Primary angle-closure glaucoma
Peripheral anterior synechiae
Posterior chamber
Posterior capsule opacity
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Pigment epithelial detachment
Punctate epithelial erosion
Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
Pinhole
Penetrating keratoplasty
Primary open-angle glaucoma
Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome
Peripapillary atrophy
Pars plana lensectomy
Pars plana vitrectomy
Photorefractive keratectomy
Panretinal photocoagulation
Posterior synechiae
Posterior subcapsular cataract
Phototherapeutic keratectomy
Posterior vitreous detachment
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome
RAPD
RD
RHT
RK
ROP
RP
RPE
RRD
Relative afferent pupillary defect
Retinal detachment
Right hypertropia
Radial keratotomy
Retinopathy of prematurity
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinal pigment epithelium
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
SB
sC
SF6

SLE
SLT
SO, SiO
SRF
SRH
Scleral buckle
Without correction
Sulfur hexafluoride (gas)
Slit-lamp examination
Selective laser trabeculoplasty
Silicone oil
Subretinal fluid
Subretinal hemorrhage
TA
TBUT
TRD
Tonometry by applanation
Tear breakup time
Tractional retinal detachment
VA
VF
VH
Visual acuity
Visual field
Vitreous hemorrhage
X
XT
X(T)
Exophoria
Exotropia
Intermittent exotropia
YAG Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser used in posterior capsule opacity; also referred to as a neodymium (Nd):YAG laser