Glaucoma Disease Glossary
Navigating a diagnosis of an age-related disease can be overwhelming, especially with all the new medical terms involved. Whether you're preparing for a doctor’s visit or simply want to better understand a glaucoma diagnosis, this glossary serves as a quick reference to help you define and understand commonly used terms.
Ciliary body
Part of the eye, above the lens, that produces the aqueous humor.
Cognitive impairment
When a person experiences difficulty with learning, memory, concentration, and everyday decision-making.
Cones
The photoreceptor nerve cells present in the macula and concentrated in the fovea (the very center of the macula); enable people to see fine detail and color.
Congenital glaucoma
A form of childhood glaucoma that affects infants born with defects that prevent the normal drainage of fluid from the eye.
Cornea
The outer, transparent structure at the front of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber; it is the eye’s primary light-focusing structure.
Drusen
Deposits of yellowish extracellular waste products that accumulate within and beneath the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) layer.