GlossaryJaheed Khan2016-10-28T15:36:33+01:00

Glossary

Cataract

Cataract
Femtosecond laser
Micro-incisional surgery
Phacoemulsification

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Diabetic Maculopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Laser
Laser photocoagulation
Lens of the eye
Macula
Retina
Retinal vein occlusions
VEGF
Veins

Cataract

The word ‘cataract’ originates from the Latin word ‘cataracta’ which means waterfall. As water turns white as it falls, so does our natural lens in our eye as we age. A cataract is a clouding of our natural lens in our eye usually due to ageing.

Femtosecond laser

A femtosecond laser is a laser which emits optical pulses with a duration well below 1 ps (→ ultrashort pulses), i.e., in the domain of femtoseconds (1 fs = 10−15 s). It thus also belongs to the category of ultrafast lasers or ultrashort pulse lasers.
Source: https://www.rp-photonics.com/femtosecond_lasers.html

Micro-incisional surgery

Micro-incision cataract surgery (MICS) is an approach to cataract surgery through incision less than 1.8 mm with the purpose of reducing surgical invasiveness, improving at the same time surgical outcomes. The main confirmed advantages of MICS are the control and avoidance of surgically induced corneal astigmatism and the decrease of postoperative corneal aberrations.

Phacoemulsification

Phacoemulsification refers to modern cataract surgery in which the eye’s internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece and aspirated from the eye. Aspirated fluids are replaced with irrigation of balanced salt solution, thus maintaining the anterior chamber, as well as cooling the handpiece.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phacoemulsification

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

AMD

AMD is a condition that occurs when cells in the macula degenerate. This occurs with partial breakdown of the RPE and the cells become damaged and die. Damage to the macula affects your central vision. There are two types – ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ AMD.
Source: https://www.patient.co.uk/health/age-related-macular-degeneration-leaflet

Dry AMD

Dry AMD refers to ageing changes in the macula. The symptoms include blurred central vision that can cause problems such as recognising peoples’ faces or reading print.

Wet AMD

In Wet AMD, new blood vessels grow from the layer of the eye called the choroid, which lies beneath the macula (which why sometimes people call Wet AMD ‘Choroidal neovascularisation’). These vessels leak blood and fluid (which is why another term for macular degeneration is ‘exudative macular degeneration’) and this causes the problems in your central vision. The longer these problem blood vessels are left to grow the more likely you are to lose your central vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin, or not enough insulin, to help glucose enter your body’s cells – or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).
Source: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes/

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/basics/definition/con-20019573

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body’s important source of fuel. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/basics/definition/con-20031902

Diabetic Maculopathy

Diabetic maculopathy is defined as retinal thickening within two disc diameters from the centre of the macula.
Source: https://www.educationdiabetes.com/for-doctors/diabetes-textbook/retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy

This refers to the effect of diabetes on the retina. Sugar within the blood can have a damaging effect on the fine blood vessels of the retina. This can lead to leakage of blood and fatty deposits into the retina. Vision can become blurred gradually if this leakage occurs in the macula. New fragile blood vessels can also grow on the surface of the retina which can lead to bleeding within the vitreous cavity and lead to sudden loss of vision.

Laser

A device that generates an intense beam of coherent monochromatic light (or other electromagnetic radiation) by stimulated emission of photons from excited atoms or molecules.
Source: https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/laser

Laser photocoagulation

Laser photocoagulation uses the heat from a laser to seal or destroy abnormal, leaking blood vessels in the retina.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/laser-photocoagulation-for-diabetic-retinopathy

Lens of the eye

Biconvex transparent body situated behind the iris in the eye; its role (along with the cornea) is to focuses light on the retina.
Source: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/lens+of+the+eye

Macula

An oval yellowish area surrounding the fovea near the centre of the retina in the eye, which is the region of keenest vision.
Source: https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/macula

Retina

The retina is the fine film that coats the inside of the eyeball.
It consists of special cells that convert light into electrical impulses. These electrical signals are sent to the brain where they are processed enabling us to ‘see’.
The central part of the retina is called the macula. This area is responsible for fine vision and colour perception.
The yellow circle is the optic nerve which transmits the signals to the brain.

Retinal vein occlusions

This refers to a blockage in one of the veins of the retina. This can occur in the central retinal vein or one of its branches. This occurs suddenly and results in blurred vision. The degree of visual blur depends on the severity of the blockage and the location.

VEGF

VEGF or Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor is a naturally produced ‘signalling’ substance in the body that is thought to be partly responsible for the growth of the abnormal blood vessels in the eye that are responsible for Wet AMD. They work by blocking the action of the VEGF in the eye and so reduce the growth of these blood vessels. Unfortunately, the only way we can get these medicines where they need to be is with an injection in to the eye.

Veins

A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back to the heart. The deoxygenated form of hemoglobin (deoxy-hemoglobin) in venous blood makes it appear dark. Veins are part of the afferent wing of the circulatory system, which returns blood to the heart. In contrast, an artery is a vessel that carries blood that is high in oxygen away from the heart to the body.
Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5970

Many thanks to Mr Khan. His prompt diagnosis and explanation was very reassuring indeed.

Recent patient, Mr R.

I am writing to thank you for all your care and attention shown to me for the eye problem that I had recently. Thanks to all your team as well.

Recent patient, Mrs D.

Just keep up the good work Dr Khan. My wife, who accompanied me, and I were both very impressed by the care and consideration shown by the whole team when I had surgery. I just hope they haven’t lost the knack by the time I get my other eye fixed. joking apart the care of this team has made it a wonderful experience for me.

Cataract Surgery Patient

Jaheed gave me an excellent summary of the historic treatments for my condition (MacTel Type 2), why they had been unsuccessful and why his recommended treatment was the best for me. I came away from the consult feeling as informed as I could be, all my questions answered, and that I had made the right decision to fly all the way from New Zealand to have this consult with Jaheed.

Patient

He was nice and seemed confident and not stand offish as some doctors can be, plus he was quick no waiting about.

An excellent Doctor who puts the concerns of his patients first which does not always occur. I can rely on his advice as the best for me.

Patient

Really impressed with his high level of knowledge and professional manner. I was really taken back by the high level of service which Dr. Khan gave. He treated my case with extreme sensitivity, listened to the vast history and picked up on the vital parts of the information to help solve my case. He was extremely astute in determining the diagnosis that previously took other Consultants hours with no result. He could explain in a professional way, and a manner in which I could understand which was important. He was very prompt, sending a thorough follow up and was supportive for anything else I required regarding treatment and numerous questions.

Patient

I saw Mr Khan almost 12 months ago at Hinchingbrooke hospital eye clinic and was extremely impressed with the way which he approached my diagnosis examination and his excellent patient communication. I was seen again by him yesterday and once again he at once put me at ease and exuded the confidence which all patients desire when visiting hospital namely that the expert is on their case and dealing in a very expert way with the problems which are presenting to them. Mr Khan is an expert in his field and we his patients are very fortunate to be under his care.

Patient

I was seen by Mr. Khan on 23rd December and although he had to tell me I had some diabetic retinopathy, which was a total shock, he was very reassuring and arranged for me to go onto the cataract waiting list and requested an appointment for the Acute Clinic for approximately 10 weeks.

Patient