EYE DEFINITIONS:

Cornea : Clear front part of the eye. It is covered with an epithelium that, unlike our skin, is clear.

Corneal Ulcer: An erosion or scrape on the cornea in which some of the epithelium is lost.

Iris: Colored part of the eye. Brown irises have pigment. Blue irises have much less pigment.

Aqueous humor: clear fluid in the front of the eye, carries nutrition for the lens and cornea.

Iridocorneal angle: Also referred to as the drainage angle. The front part of the eye is full of clear fluid called aqueous humor. The aqueous humor is made in the ciliary body and drains via the angle.

Glaucoma: Elevated intraocular pressure that is associated with vision loss. Glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle is plugged, the drainage angle is abnormally formed, or the normal flow of fluids in the eye is blocked.

Pupil: The hole in the iris. The pupil gets smaller in bright light.

Uvea: The vascular tissues of the eye. This includes the iris, ciliary body and choroid.

Uveitis: Inflammation of the uvea, can be anterior or posterior.

Lens: Clear and as thick as a stack of 5 dimes. Suspended behind the iris by hundreds of microscopic fibers.

Cataract: An opacification of the lens.

Lens capsule: A cellophane-like covering of the lens (only much thinner!). During cataract surgery the anterior lens capsule is partially opened so that the abnormal lens material can be removed.

Vitreous humor: Clear gel behind the lens which helps keep the retina attached.

Retina: Thin layer of tissue that receives light and allows us to see.

Tapetum: The tapetum is a reflective structure that underlies the retina. It acts like a mirror reflecting light back through the retina so the retina gets two chances to catch the light. Animals that are active at night have a tapetum. Dogs, Cats, Horses, and Cows all have tapetums.

Inflammation: Irritation, redness, swelling of any tissue. Inflamed eyes may appear red. A pet may rub or scratch their eye when inflammation is present. If