Eye Abbreviations

This is a list of common eye abbreviations that you might find in an eye doctor’s chart. If you come across more, or have a question about one you find, leave a comment below. Thanks!
-Timothy Root, M.D.

A or Acc …………... accommodation
AC ………………… anterior chamber
AC/A ……………… accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio
ACIOL ………..…… anterior chamber intraocular lens
ALT ………….…… argon laser trabeculoplasty
APD ……………… afferent pupil defect
ARMD ………….… age-related macular degeneration
ASC ……………… anterior subcapsular cataract
BD ..……………… base down (prism)
BI ………………… base in (prism)
BID ………………. twice a day
BLP ……………… bare light perception
BTL ……………… blink to light
BO ………………. base out (prism)
BRAO …………… branch retinal artery occlusion
BRVO …………… branch retinal vein occlusion
BU ………….…… base up (prism)
CACG ………...… chronic angle closure glaucoma
CE ……….……… cataract extraction
CF ………….…… confrontational fields or count fingers
CL …….………… clear, contact lens
CLARE ……….… contact lens associated red eye
CRAO ………..… central retinal artery occlusion
CRVO …..……… central retinal vein occlusion
CS ……………… conjunctiva and sclera
CSME ………...… clinically significant macular edema
CSR …….……… central serous retinopathy
D …………..…… diopters
DFE …………..… dilated fundus exam
DLK …….……… diffuse lamellar keratitis
DQ …...………… deep and quite
DR …………...… diabetic retinopathy
E …………….… esophophoria
E’ ……….……… esophoria at near
EOG ..….….…… electro-oculogram
EOM ……..…..… extraocular movements
ERG .………...… electroretinogram
ERM ………..….. epiretinal membrane
ET …………....… esotropia
E(T)  ……...….… intermittant esotropia
EXT ……….....… extremities
FA ……………... fluorescein angiography
FC ……………… finger counting
FOL …….……… follicles
F/U ………………… followup
GL(S) ………………… glaucoma suspect
HE ………………… hard exudates
HM ………………… hand movement
HSV ………………… herpes simplex virus
HST ………………… horse shoe tear
HT ………………… hypertropia
I ………………… iris
IMHO ………………… in my humble opinion
IOL ………………… intraocular lens
IOOA ………………… inferior oblique overaction
IOP ………………… intraocular pressure
J1,J2 ………………… Jaeger (near vision scale J1+=20/20)
K ………………… cornea
KCN ………………… keratoconus
KPs ………………… keratic precipitates
L ………………… lens
LASIK ………………… laser in situ keratomileusis
LOL ………………… laugh out loud
LP ………………… light perception
LPI ………………… laser peripheral iridotomy
LL ………………… lids and lacrimation
LLL ………………… left lower lid
LUL ………………… left upper lid
MA ………………… microaneurysms
MP ………………… membrane peel
NI ………………… no improvement
NLP ………………… no light perception
NPDR ………………… non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
NSC ………………… nuclear sclerotic cataract
NV ………………… neovascularization
NVA ………………… neovascularization of the angle
NVD ………………… neovascularization of the disk
NVE ………………… neovascularization elsewhere
NVG ………………… neovascularization glaucoma
NVI ………………… neovascularization of iris
NFL ………………… nerve fiber layer
OD ………………… oculus dexter (the right eye)
ONH ………………… optic nerve head
OS ………………… oculus sinister (the left eye)
OU ………………… oculus uterque (both eyes)
P ………………… pupils
Pap ………………… papillae
PAS ………………… peripheral anterior synechiae
PCIOL ………………… posterior chamber intraocular lens
PCO ………………… posterior capsular opacification
PD ………………… pupillary distance
PDR ………………… proliferative diabetic retinopathy
PED ………………… pigment epithelial detachment
PED ………………… persistent epithelial defect
PEE ………………… punctate epithelial erosion
PEK ………………… punctate epithelial keratopathy
PERRLA ………………… pupils equally round and reactive to light and accommodation
PH ………………… pinhole
PHNI ………………… pinhole no improvement
PHPV ………………… persistent hyperplastic of primary vitreous
PI ………………… peripheral iridotomy
PK ………………… Penetrating keratoplasty (corneal xpl)
POAG ………………… primary open angle glaucoma
PPV ………………… pars plana vitrectomy
PRP ………………… panretinal photocoagulation
PSC ………………… posterior subcapsular cataract
PTC ………………… pseudotumor cerebri
PVD ………………… posterior vitreous detachment
PVR ………………… proliferative vitreoretinopathy
PXS/PXF ………………… pseudoexfoliation syndrome
QAM ………………… morning
QD ………………… once a day
QHS ………………… nighttime or bedtime
QID ………………… four times a day
RAPD ………………… relative afferent papillary defect
RD ………………… retinal detachment
ROFL ………………… roll on floor laughing
RLL ………………… right lower lid
ROP ………………… retinopathy of prematurity
RP ………………… retinitis pigmentosa
RPE ………………… retinal pigment epithelium
RUL ………………… right upper lid
Rx ………………… prescription
Sc ………………… sans correction (no glasses)
SCH ………………… subconjunctival hemorrhage
SLE ………………… slit-lamp exam
SLK ………………… superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis
SOOA ………………… superior oblique overaction
SPK ………………… superficial punctate keratopathy
SRF ………………… subretinal fluid
Sph ………………… spherical lens
T ………………… pressure
Tap ………………… pressure (applination)
TID ………………… three times a day
Tono ………………… pressure (tonopen)
V or Va ………………… vision or visual acuity
Vcc ………………… vision (with correction)
VEP ………………… visual evoked potential
Vsc ………………… vision (sans correction)
VH ………………… vitreous hemorrhage
Vit ………………… vitreous
VMT ………………… vitreo macular traction
W&Q ………………… white and quite
WNL ………………… within normal limits
XOXO ………………… hugs and kisses
XT ………………… exotropia
X(T) ………………… intermittant exotropia