vitreomacular traction (VMT) is a condition where the eye’s vitreous gel pulls on the central retina (the macula). It can distort the macula and affect detailed vision used for reading and recognizing faces. It is most commonly identified with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan in clinic. It is discussed in retina care because it can be monitored or treated depending on symptoms and retinal findings.
vitreous hemorrhage means there is blood inside the vitreous gel, the clear material that fills the back of the eye. It can cause sudden floaters, hazy vision, or a dark “curtain” effect because blood blocks light from reaching the retina. Clinicians use the term vitreous hemorrhage as a diagnosis and clinical finding that signals bleeding from structures in the back of the eye. It is commonly discussed in emergency eye evaluations, retina clinics, and after eye trauma or retinal disease.
posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common age-related change in the eye where the vitreous gel separates from the retina. It often causes new floaters (moving specks or cobwebs) and flashes of light. Clinicians use the term in eye exams to describe a specific anatomic event, not an infection or a “growth.” It matters because it can look similar to, or sometimes occur with, retinal tears or retinal detachment.
goniosynechialysis is an eye procedure used to separate abnormal adhesions in the drainage angle of the eye. It is most often discussed in the context of angle-closure glaucoma and narrow-angle disease. Its goal is to reopen the natural fluid outflow pathway when it has been sealed by scar-like attachments. It is typically performed by ophthalmic surgeons, sometimes alongside cataract surgery.
trabeculotomy is a glaucoma surgery designed to improve fluid drainage from the eye. It aims to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) by opening part of the eye’s natural outflow pathway. It is commonly used in certain types of childhood glaucoma and selected adult open-angle glaucoma cases. It may be performed as a standalone procedure or alongside cataract surgery in some settings.
viscocanalostomy is a type of glaucoma surgery designed to lower eye pressure. It is usually used for open-angle forms of glaucoma when drops or laser are not enough. It works by improving the eye’s natural drainage pathways without fully entering the front chamber of the eye. It is considered a “non-penetrating” filtering surgery in many surgical classifications.
canaloplasty is an eye surgery designed to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in certain types of glaucoma. It works by improving the eye’s natural fluid drainage pathway rather than creating a new drainage hole. It is most commonly used for open-angle glaucoma and is sometimes combined with cataract surgery. It is considered a “bleb-less” approach because it typically does not aim to form a filtering bleb under the eyelid.
goniotomy is an eye surgery that treats certain types of glaucoma by improving fluid drainage from inside the eye. It involves opening part of the eye’s natural drainage tissue in the front chamber angle. It is commonly discussed in pediatric glaucoma care and in modern minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) for adults. The goal is usually to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), the pressure inside the eye.
Kahook Dual Blade is a single-use microsurgical blade used in glaucoma surgery. It is designed to remove a strip of tissue from the eye’s internal drainage pathway. It is most commonly used during minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). It may be performed alone or combined with cataract surgery in appropriate cases.
Trabectome is a surgical device used to treat certain types of glaucoma by improving fluid outflow from the eye. It is commonly used in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) performed from inside the eye. The goal is to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), which is a major risk factor for glaucoma progression. It is often considered in people whose glaucoma is not adequately controlled with drops alone.
PreserFlo MicroShunt is a small implanted glaucoma drainage device designed to lower eye pressure. It creates a controlled pathway for fluid inside the eye to exit to the outer surface tissues. It is most commonly used in the surgical management of glaucoma, especially when drops alone are not enough. It is implanted by an ophthalmologist in an operating-room setting.
XEN gel stent is a tiny implanted tube used in glaucoma care to help lower eye pressure. It creates a new pathway for fluid to drain from inside the eye to the outer eye tissues. It is most commonly discussed within minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). It is typically used by glaucoma specialists in an operating room or surgical center setting.
Hydrus Microstent is a tiny implant used in certain glaucoma surgeries. It is designed to help lower eye pressure by improving fluid drainage inside the eye. It is most commonly placed during cataract surgery in people who also have open-angle glaucoma.
iStent is a tiny implanted device used in glaucoma care to help lower eye pressure. It is placed inside the eye’s drainage angle to improve fluid outflow. It is commonly used as a form of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). It is often performed at the same time as cataract surgery in selected patients.
minimally invasive glaucoma surgery is a group of modern procedures designed to lower eye pressure in glaucoma. It aims to improve the eye’s fluid drainage using small incisions and minimal tissue disruption. It is most commonly used for open-angle glaucoma, often at the time of cataract surgery. It is considered an option when eye drops and laser treatments are not enough or are difficult to maintain.
MIGS stands for **minimally invasive glaucoma surgery**. It refers to a group of **small-incision surgical procedures** designed to help lower **intraocular pressure (IOP)**. MIGS is most commonly used for **glaucoma**, especially mild to moderate disease. Many MIGS procedures are performed **at the time of cataract surgery**, though some are done on their own.
A punctal plug is a small medical device placed into the tear drainage opening of the eyelid. It is used to slow tear drainage so the eye surface stays moist longer. It is most commonly used in dry eye disease and related ocular surface conditions. It may be inserted temporarily to “trial” tear drainage blockage or used longer term, depending on the type.
eyelid scrubs are lid-hygiene products used to clean the eyelid margins (the edge of the eyelids where lashes grow). They are commonly used as part of care for blepharitis and dry eye conditions linked to the eyelids. They can be used at home or as part of an eye clinic’s treatment plan. They are not the same as eye drops and are not placed directly into the eye.
A dry eye flare is a period when dry eye symptoms suddenly worsen compared with a person’s usual baseline. It is commonly used in clinics to describe episodic “bad days” within dry eye disease (DED). The term helps patients and clinicians communicate changes in comfort, vision, and eye surface irritation. It also highlights that triggers and inflammation can temporarily intensify a chronic condition.
A dacryolith is a small “stone” or concretion that forms within the tear drainage system. It can block normal tear outflow and contribute to watering, discharge, or infection. The term is most commonly used in ophthalmology (and sometimes ENT) when evaluating tearing complaints. It may be identified during an eye exam, irrigation/testing of the tear ducts, imaging, or surgery.