List of optometric abbreviations

Certain abbreviations are current within the profession of optometry. They are used to denote clinical conditions, examination techniques and findings, and various forms of treatment.

Eye examination terms

Abbreviation Term Description (notes)
AC Anterior chamber fluid-filled space between the iris and the endothelium
AC 4/4 Grade 4 anterior chamber angle open angle between cornea and iris
AC 3/4 Grade 3 anterior chamber angle
AC 2/4 Grade 2 anterior chamber angle
AC 1/4 Grade 1 anterior chamber angle
AC 0/4 Grade 0 anterior chamber angle closed angle between cornea and iris
AC/A Accommodative convergence / Accommodation ratio the portion of the range of convergence that occurs in response to accommodation
Acc Accommodation process of changing optical power to maintain focus as distance changes
Add Addition
AIT After-image transfer
ALT Alternating
ALT ET/SOT Alternating esotropia
ALT XT/XOT Alternating exotropia
ARC Anomalous retinal correspondence
A/V Arteriole–venue ratio
BIO Binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy
BSV Binocular single vision
BV Binocular vision
BVD Back vertex distance
BVP Back vertex power
CD Centration distance
C/D Cup–disc ratio
CF Count fingers vision – state distance
c/o or c.o. Complains of
CT Cover test
c/u Check up
CW Close work
Δ Prism dioptre
D Dioptres
DC Dioptres cylinder
DNA Did not attend
DOB Date of birth
DS Dioptres sphere
DV Distance vision
DVD Dissociated vertical deviation
EF Eccentric fixation
FB Foreign body
FD Fixation disparity
FF Foveal fixation
FHG Family history of glaucoma
FMH Family medical history
FOH Family ocular history
F/U Follow up appointment
GH General health
G(M)P General (medical) practitioner
HA Headaches
HARC Harmonious abnormal retinal correspondence
HM Hand motion vision – state distance
Hx History
IOL Intra-ocular lens
IOP Intra-ocular pressure
ISNT Inferior, Superior, Nasal, Temporal rule used to assess optic disc appearance
K Keratometry
OS oculus sinister (left eye)
LHyperT or LHT Left hypertropia
LHypoT Left hypotropia
LO Lenticular opacity
L/R FD L/R fixation disparity
L/R L hyperphoria
Left ET Left esotropia
LVA Low vision aid
MDU Mallett distance unit
MNU Mallett near unit
M.Wing Maddox Wing
MR Maddox rod
NB: NAD No abnormality detected (is frequently used but is not recommended)
NCT Non-contact tonometer
ND Neutral density filter
NLP No light perception No light perception is considered total visual impairment, or total blindness; see Visual impairment#Classification
NPC Near point of convergence or no previous correction
NRC Normal retinal correspondence
NV Near vision
NWT Normal wearing time
o symptoms Zero symptoms
ϕ Horizontal orthophoria
θ Vertical orthophoria
⊕ Horizontal and vertical orthophoria
OC's Optical centres
Occ. Occupation
OD oculus dexter (right eye)
OH Ocular history
OMB Oculo motor balance
ONH Optic nerve head
Oph Ophthalmoscopy
OS oculus sinister (left eye)
OU oculus uterque (both eyes)
PD Pupillary distance
PERRLA Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
PH Pinhole see Pinhole occluder
PHNI Pinhole No Improvement see Pinhole occluder
PHVA Pinhole Visual Acuity
PL Perception of light
POH / PrOH Previous ocular history
PPA Peri-papillary atrophy
Pt Patient
RAPD Relative afferent pupillary defect
OD Right eye (oculus dexter)
Ret. Retinoscopy
RHyperT Right hypertropia
RHypoT or RHT Right hypotropia
RNFL Retinal nerve fibre layer
RPE Retinal pigment epithelium
RSOT Right esotropia
Rx Prescription
SE Spherical Equivalent
SLE Slit lamp examination
SLM Slit lamp microscope
EP Esophoria
ET Esotropia
Supp. Suppression
V Vision (unaided)
VA Visual acuity
VA OS Left visual acuity
VA OD Right visual acuity
VDU Visual display unit
VF Visual field
VPS Variable prism stereoscope
WD Working distance
X/12 X months
X/52 X weeks
X/7 X days
XP Exophoria
XT Exotropia

Clinical conditions terms

Abbreviation Term Description (notes)
AH Asteroid hyalosis
AMD/ARMD Age-related macular degeneration
ACG/CAG Angle closure glaucoma
BDR Background diabetic retinopathy
BP Blood pressure
BRAO Branch retinal artery occlusion
BRVO Branch retinal vein occlusion
Cat Cataract
CLAPC/CLIPC Contact lens associated/induced papillary conjunctivitis
CLARE Contact lens associated red eye
CLPU Contact lens associated peripheral ulcer
CNS Central nervous system
CNV Choroidal neovascularization
CRAO Central retinal artery occlusion
CRVO Central retinal vein occlusion
CSR Central serous retinopathy
CVA Cerebrovascular accident
Dx Diagnosis
dDx Differential diagnosis
DR Diabetic retinopathy
ERM Epiretinal membrane
ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
FTMH Full thickness macular hole
FMNS Fusion maldevelopment nystagmus syndrome (Latent nystagmus)
Fx Family history
GPC Giant papillary conjunctivitis
Hx Hospital or History
HES Hospital eye service
IDDM Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
ILM Internal limiting membrane
IRMA Intra-retinal microvascular abnormality
KCS Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
KP Keratic precipitates
LASEK Laser epithelial keratomileusis
LASIK Laser in-situ keratomileusis
LTG Low-tension glaucoma
MH Macular hole
MI Myocardial infarction
MS Multiple sclerosis
NIDDM Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NRR Neuro-retinal rim
NS Nuclear sclerosis
NTG Normal tension glaucoma
PDR Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
PDT Photodynamic therapy
PK Penetrating keratoplasy
POAG Primary open-angle glaucoma
PPDR Preproliferative diabetic retinopathy
PRA Pan-retinal ablation
PRK Photorefractive keratectomy
PRP Pan-retinal photocoagulation
PSCC Posterior sub-capsular cataract
PVD Posterior vitreous detachment
PXF Pseudoexfoliative syndrome
RD Retinal detachment
RK Radial keratotomy
RP Retinitis pigmentosa
SEAL Superior epithelial arcuate lesion
SLK Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis
SMH Submacular hemorrhage
SPK Superficial punctate keratitis
SPEE Superficial punctate epithelial erosions
Sx Symptoms
TIA Transient ischaemic attack
T1 diab Type 1 diabetes
T2 diab Type 2 diabetes
Tx Treatment
Vx Vomiting

Contact lens terms

Abbreviation Term Description (notes)
BC Base curve
BOZD Back optic zone diameter
BOZR Back optic zone radius
BVP Back vertex power
CLAPC/CLIPC Contact-lens-associated/induced papillary conjunctivitis
CLARE Contact-lens-associated red eye
CLPU Contact-lens-associated peripheral ulcer
Dk Unit of permeability
DW Daily wear
EW Extended wear
FOZD Front optic zone diameter
FVP Front vertex power
HEMA Hydroxyethyl methacrylate
HT Handling tint
HVID Horizontal visible iris diameter
K Keratometry
MWT Maximum wearing time
OS/OD Overall size/overall diameter
OZD Optic zone diameter
PMMA Polymethyl methacrylate
RGP Rigid-gas-permeable
SCL Soft contact lens
SiH Silicone hydrogel
SEAL Superior epithelial arcuate lesion
SLK Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis
SPK Superficial punctate keratitis
SPEE Superficial punctate epithelial erosions
TBUT Tear break-up time
Tc Centre thickness
TD Total diameter
Te Edge thickness
TWT/WTT Today wearing time
VPA Vertical palpebral aperture
WT Wearing time

Pharmacy and drug terms

Abbreviation Term Description (notes)
A.d. As directed
bd/bid Twice a day
gt One drop
gtt drops
GSL General sales list
Gutt/g Guttae (drops)
Meds Medications
Nocte/QHS At night
Occ Ointment
od/QD Once a day
otc Over the counter (bought medication)
P Pharmacy (drug)
POM Prescription-only medicine
prn When required
q Every (e.g. q2h – every two hours)
qds/qid Four times a day
Rx Prescription
tds/tid Three times a day
ung Ointment

Examination types and enhanced care schemes

Abbreviation Term Description (notes)
DFE Dilated fundus examination
DFP Digital fundus photograph(y)
DRS Diabetic retinopathy screening
GIES Glasgow Integrated Eyecare Scheme
PEARS Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Scheme
WEHE Welsh Eye Health Examination
WLVS Welsh Low Vision Service
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