Eye Dictionary: X-Y-Z
Z
X
Xalatan. This is a popular glaucoma eye drop. Xalatan was the first prostaglandin drop available and is considered by many doctors the best initial treatment for glaucoma given its action and easy dosing. This drop is taken only once a day, usually at bedtime. This drug is now available as the generic drop latanoprost. Alternative drops in the same drug class include Travatan, Lumigan, and preservative-free Zioptan.
Y
YAG capsulotomy. This is a laser procedure used to treat "after cataracts." With cataract surgery, the natural lens is removed from the eye and replaced with a plastic lens (see implant). While very successful, some people will form a haze or cloudy membrane on the back of their implant. These "after cataracts" occur months or years after surgery and are not a complication or problem ... but they can cause blurry vision similar to the original cataract. Fortunately, the opacity is easy to remove using a "YAG laser." During the procedure, you sit forward into a laser microscope while I create a hole through the cloudy membrane using tiny laser pulses. This is a painless procedure and takes about 30 seconds to complete. Afterwards, your vision is blurry from the dilating drops but the vision improves rapidly. While this procedure is easy and relatively safe, we recheck your eye in a few weeks to insure no retinal problems have developed. This also gives us a
chance to recheck your eye glasses prescription. Once the "after cataract" is gone, it doesn't come back so you don't have to have this procedure repeated ever again.
chance to recheck your eye glasses prescription. Once the "after cataract" is gone, it doesn't come back so you don't have to have this procedure repeated ever again.
Zaditor. This is a popular over-the-counter allergy eye drop. It is useful for ocular itching and swelling and is, in my opinion, one of the best allergy drops available without a prescription. The active ingredient is ketotifen, which is also found in the allergy drop Alaway. This medicine lasts about 12 hours so is usually dosed twice a day.
zeaxanthin. This is a natural pigment produced by plants and absorbed by animals. This pigment is what gives corn its yellow color. This pigment, along with lutein, has been studied as part of the AREDS 2 Study and found to help slow down the progression of macular degeneration. Both these pigments are found in high concentrations inside the retina.
Zioptan. This is a preservative-free prostaglandin drop used for glaucoma. It works similar to Xalatan but comes in individual single-dose dispensers. The active ingredient is tafluprost. This medicine is best used for people with sensitive eyes or who are consistently running out of their regular prostaglandin drop.
Zirgan. An antiviral eye ointment containing ganciclovir. This drug is very effective for the treatment of herpetic eye disease. This is a newer medication and can sometimes take pharmacies a few days to fill. Unfortunately, there aren't many antiviral alternatives available in the US (just Viroptic drops).
zonules. These are string-like attachments that suspend the lens inside your eye. The zonules run around the periphery of the lens/cataract like trampoline springs and attach to the ciliary body muscle. Muscle contraction of the ciliary body changes the tension on the zonules, and this controls the lens shape to help with visual focus. Certain conditions like Marfan syndrome can cause a weakness to the zonules and make theeye prone to lens dislocations as the zonules break. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome can cause the zonules to become brittle and delicate, making cataract surgery challenging because of the resulting zonular weakness.
zoster. This is the term used for chicken pox (varicella zoster) in adults. While rarely a vision problem in childhood, chicken pox can reactivate in adulthood and cause an attack of shingles that can affect the eye.
Zylet. This is a combination drop containing loteprednol (a steroid) and tobramycin (an antibiotic). This combination is especially useful for mild infections and blepharitis (chronic eyelid inflammation). Comparable drops include Tobradex and generic Maxitrol.
Zymar. This is the trade name for the antibiotic eye drop gatifloxacin. This is a powerful antibiotic used for eye infections, corneal ulcers, and after eye surgery. This drug comes in a concentration of 0.3% and is now being supplanted by the medication Zymaxid, which contains the same drug but at a higher concentration. Comparable fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the same drug class include Vigamox and Besivance.
zeaxanthin. This is a natural pigment produced by plants and absorbed by animals. This pigment is what gives corn its yellow color. This pigment, along with lutein, has been studied as part of the AREDS 2 Study and found to help slow down the progression of macular degeneration. Both these pigments are found in high concentrations inside the retina.
Zioptan. This is a preservative-free prostaglandin drop used for glaucoma. It works similar to Xalatan but comes in individual single-dose dispensers. The active ingredient is tafluprost. This medicine is best used for people with sensitive eyes or who are consistently running out of their regular prostaglandin drop.
Zirgan. An antiviral eye ointment containing ganciclovir. This drug is very effective for the treatment of herpetic eye disease. This is a newer medication and can sometimes take pharmacies a few days to fill. Unfortunately, there aren't many antiviral alternatives available in the US (just Viroptic drops).
zonules. These are string-like attachments that suspend the lens inside your eye. The zonules run around the periphery of the lens/cataract like trampoline springs and attach to the ciliary body muscle. Muscle contraction of the ciliary body changes the tension on the zonules, and this controls the lens shape to help with visual focus. Certain conditions like Marfan syndrome can cause a weakness to the zonules and make theeye prone to lens dislocations as the zonules break. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome can cause the zonules to become brittle and delicate, making cataract surgery challenging because of the resulting zonular weakness.
zoster. This is the term used for chicken pox (varicella zoster) in adults. While rarely a vision problem in childhood, chicken pox can reactivate in adulthood and cause an attack of shingles that can affect the eye.
Zylet. This is a combination drop containing loteprednol (a steroid) and tobramycin (an antibiotic). This combination is especially useful for mild infections and blepharitis (chronic eyelid inflammation). Comparable drops include Tobradex and generic Maxitrol.
Zymar. This is the trade name for the antibiotic eye drop gatifloxacin. This is a powerful antibiotic used for eye infections, corneal ulcers, and after eye surgery. This drug comes in a concentration of 0.3% and is now being supplanted by the medication Zymaxid, which contains the same drug but at a higher concentration. Comparable fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the same drug class include Vigamox and Besivance.