Ultralase

Laser eye surgery glossary

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F

Far-sightedness

Or long-sightedness. See Hyperopia. Further reading

FDA

The abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. It is the United States governmental agency responsible for the evaluation and approval of medical devices. Further reading

Femtosecond

The femtosecond laser for ophthalmology is used to create a LASIK flap in a laser eye surgery procedure commonly called Intralase or 'blade-free LASIK laser eye surgery'. It is a silent, bladeless, computer-guided laser used in Step One of LASIK laser eye surgery to safely create corneal flaps of exact size, shape, and depth. The lasers uses femtosecond technology to pass through the cornea at 15,000 pulses per second.

Flap

In this context the 'flap' is the thin layer of corneal tissue that is temporarily lifted aside during laser eye surgery, whilst the laser is applied to the inner layers of the cornea.

Floaters

Specks or strands that seem to float across the field of vision. Floaters and spots are actually shadows on the retina cast by tiny bits of gel or cells inside the clear fluid that fills the eye. Floaters and spots usually are normal and harmless. However, in some cases they may warn of serious conditions such as retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, or infection. Someone who experiences a sudden decline in vision accompanied by flashes and floaters or a sudden increase in the number of floaters should consult an optician or ophthalmologist urgently. Only in very severe cases would they affect your suitability for laser eye surgery. Further reading

Focus

Point at which light rays meet. When these rays focus correctly on the retina (at the back of the eye) the image is clear. In short-sighted people the light rays meet just too short of the retina and images are blurred. In long-sighted people the light rays meet just behind the retina so near vision is not in focus. Further reading

FRCOphth

Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

FRCS

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Further reading

FRCS (ED)

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons - Edinburgh.

FRCSI

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Further reading

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
6. F
7. G
8. H
9. I
10. J
11. K
12. L
13. M
14. N
15. O
16. P
17. Q
18. R
19. S
20. T
21. U
22. V
23. W
24. X
25. Y
26. Z