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Common Abbreviations in Ophthalmology

Jonathan A. Barnett


  • OD = Right eye | OS = Left eye | OU = Both eyes

  • VA = Visual Acuity | VAcc = with correction [glasses or contact lenses] | VAsc = without correction

  • PH = Pinhole acuity

  • PHNI = No Improvement of vision with a pinhole

  • Gtt = drop

  • Ung = ointment

  • EOM = Extraocular Muscles

  • IOP = Intraocular Pressure

  • CVF = Confrontational Visual Fields

  • CF = Count Fingers

  • HM = Hand Motion

  • DFE = Dilated Fundus Exam | SLE = Slit Lamp Exam | PLE = Pen Light Exam

  • RAPD = Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect

  • KED = corneal epithelial defect (i.e., abrasion)

  • PEE / SPK = corneal punctate epithelial erosions / superficial punctate keratopathy

  • FBS = Foreign body sensation

  • PFATs = Preservative-Free Artificial Tears

  • SCH = Subconjunctival hemorrhage

  • DD = Disc Diameters in size

  • W&q = Conjunctiva is white and quiet (normal)

  • D&q = Anterior chamber is deep and quiet (normal, without inflammation)

  • AC = Anterior Chamber

  • ON = Optic Nerve | ONH = Optic Nerve Head

  • RD = Retinal Detachment

  • PVD = Posterior Vitreous Detachment

  • DR = Diabetic Retinopathy | NPDR: Nonproliferative DR | PDR: Proliferative DR

  • CNV = Choroidal Neovascularization

  • NVI = Neovascularization of the Iris | NVA = Neovascularization of the Angle | NVD = Neovascularization of the optic Disc | NVE = Neovascularization elsewhere (usually peripheral retina)

  • CE/IOL = Cataract Extraction with IntraOcular Lens insertion (i.e., cataract surgery)

  • IV = Intravitreal (as usually in “IV injection”)