Reprint from the American Journal, of Ophthalmology, June 15,1884 
A NOMENCLATURE OF 
OPHTHALMOLOGY. 
BY 
SWAN M. BURNETT, M. D., 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
ST. LOUIS: 
J. H. Chambers & Co., Publishers and Dealers in Medical Books, 
405 North Third Street. A NOMENCLATURE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY. 
BY SWAN M. BURNETT, M. D. 
Prof, of Clinical Ophthalmology and Otology in the University of 
Georgetown; Ophthalmic and Aural Surgeon to the Garfield Mem- 
orial Hospital and to the Central Dispensary, Washington, D. C. 
The need of a uniform nosology in ophthalmology is so strong- 
ly felt that it is not necessary to insist upon its importance. 
Modern ophthalmology was so sudden in its rise and so rapid 
in its progress that even its students have found it difficult to 
keep pace with the refinements in meaning of terms that 
have been necessarily introduced to express our more accurate 
knowledge, while to the non-specialist they sound almost like an 
unknown tongue. It would seem to be time therefore to com- 
pile a list, as complete as may be possible, of ophthalmic dis- 
eases and anamolies for the benefit both of our specialty and the 
profession at large. 
In 1880 the National Board of Health not being able to find 
any such list applied to me to furnish them with one to be used 
in the returns of vital statistics. This list was made and publish- 
ed in Supplement number 9 of their Bulletin. It was offered only 
as suggestions towards that full and complete ophthalmic nosology 
which was looked forward to in the new Nomenclature of Diseases 
to be issued by the Royal College of Physicians of London, on 
which a committee had been at work for a number of years. 
This committee has made its report to the College and I have, 
through the courtesy of Dr. J. S. Billings, of the Library of the 
Surgeon General’s Office, had an opportunity of examining it. The 
incompleteness of the nomenclature of ophthalmology as recom- 
mended by this committee has been found upon this examination, 
to be so great that at the suggestion of the editor of this 
Journal, I have agreed to the republication, with revision, of my 
original list.1 
1. My list contains about one hundred more names than the report of 
the committee. Among the more important omissions may be mentioned 
Choroiditis areolaris — C. exudative — C. disseminate.— C. spongy.— 4 
Swan M. Barnett. 
It is a matter deeply to be deplored that so high an authority 
as the Royal College of Physicians should put forth so imperfect a 
nosology, and such indifference to the claims of such an import- 
ant branch of medical science as ophthalmology can, it seems to 
us, find no excuse. There are several ophthalmologists in Eng- 
land who are capable of giving us, under the seal of the Royal 
College of Physicians, as complete a nomenclature as is possible 
under the circumstances, and the pity of it is that another such 
opportunity is not likely to arise for a number of years. 
The following list is offered to the profession, in the absence of 
anything better, as a basis for and the beginning of what we 
hope may become in time a complete nosology, useful both to the 
specialist and the statistician. We do not claim for it perfection 
or completeness. About many points there may and will be dif- 
Cliorio-retinitis. — Detachment of the choroid.—Hypersemia of the 
choroid.—Sclerotico—choroiditis.— Croupous conjunctivitis.— Ulcer of 
the conjunctiva.—Circumcorneal hypertrophy of the conjunctiva—Kera- 
titis-bullosa—K. fascicular.—K. neuroparalytic.— Kerato-iritis.—Leuco- 
ma adherens.—Pannus crassus.—P. tenuis.— Resorption ulcer of the 
cornea.—Sclerosis of the cornea. No mention is made of any forms of 
glaucoma, but the acute, chronic, hemorrhagic, fulminans and secon- 
dary. Essential Phthisis bulbi is not mentioned. Neither is any form 
of cyclitis, corectopia, exclusion of the pupil, occlusion of the pupil, 
plastic iritis, purulent iritis, no forms of irido-cyclitis or irido-choroi- 
ditis, reversion of the iris, rupture of the iris, rudimentary iris, nor 
spongy iritis. 
Several forms of cataract are omitted; and neither lenticonus nor sub- 
luxation of the lens are noted. Under diseases of the lids we fail to find 
tarsitis, distichiasis, lagophthalmos, nictitation, and several other minor 
affections. No record is made of blepharospasm, insufficiency of the 
muscles, and only three kinds of strabismus are mentioned, viz., 
paralytic, spasmodic and concomitant. 
No form of paralysis of the ocular muscles is mentioned. Tenonitis, 
dislocation of the eye-ball, and fracture of tbe bones of the orbit are 
passed over in silence. Under “ disorders of vision,” we fail to find any 
allusion whatever to anomalies of the visual field, metamorphopsia, or 
nervous asthenopia, and many of the various forms of amaurosis andarn- 
blyopia are not set down. Regular astigmatism is divided into myopic 
and hypermetropic, the compound forms not being mentioned. 
Many affections of the retina are omitted, among them embolism of the 
central artery of the retina, perivasculitis, thrombosis; and neuro-retinitis 
descending and ascending, retro-bulbar neuritis and dropsy of the 
nerve sheath are not to be found. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
5 
ferences of opinions, but a perfectly satisfactory nosology is a 
dream to be realized only by the ophthalmologist of the very 
distant future. 
In making a nomenclature to be used by English- 
speaking people it is often a matter of difficulty to select 
the proper term for certain affections. We have in 
the following list employed, wherever practicable, En- 
glish words, taking the Latin and Greek terms only in those 
instances, where long usage has rendered them a part of our 
medical vernacular, or where they offered the advantage of deci- 
ded brevity and compactness. So far as it has been possible, we 
have tried to make the specific name of a disease correspond to 
the known or supposed pathology of the affection, though in 
deference to past usages we have often at the same time given 
the name furnished by other characteristics, thus: We have 
given, in addition to conjunctivitis purulent, C. gonorrhoeal, to 
indicate one especial cause, and C. of the new-born, because this 
has been for years regarded as a special form of purulent con- 
junctivitis. It has not been possible, of course, to give every 
name a disease has been, oris even now known by, but we think 
it is possible to classify any affection of the eye under some name 
to be found in the following list: 
AFFECTIONS OF THE CHOROID AND VITREOUS HUMOR. 
Atrophy of the choroid. 
Choroiditis, areolar. 
Choroiditis, exudative. 
Choroiditis, disseminate. 
Choroiditis, metastatic. 
Choroiditis, plastic. 
Choroiditis, purulent. 
Choroiditis, serous. 
Choroiditis, spongy (gelatinous). 
Choroxlitis, syphilitic. 
Chorio retinitis. 
Coloboma of the choroid. 
Detachment of the choroid. 
Formation of bone in the choroid. 6 
Sican M. Burnett. 
Foreign body in the vitreous humor. 
Hemorrhage into the choroid. 
Hernia of the choroid. 
Hemorrhage into the vitreous humor. 
Hypercemia of the choroid. 
Inflammation of the vitreous humor (hyalitis). 
Opacities of the vitreous humor. 
Persistent hyaloid artery. 
Rupture of the choroid. 
Tubercles in the choroid. 
Tumors of the choroid. 
New blood vessels in the vitreous humor. 
Parasites in the vitreous humor. 
Sclerotico-choroiditis. 
Sparkling synchisis of the vitreous humor. 
Synchisis of the vitreous humor. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE CONJUNCTIVA. 
Amyloid degeneration of the conjunctiva. 
Apoplexy of the con junctiva (ecchymosis). 
Atropine conjunctivitis. 
Burns of the conjunctiva. 
Caruncle, inflammation of. 
Chemosis, inflammatory. 
Chemosis, passive. 
Circumcorneal hypertrophy of the conjunctiva. 
Conjunctivitis, catarrhal. 
Conjunctivitis, croupous. 
Conjunctivitis, diphtheritic. 
Conjunctivitis, follicular (papillary). 
Conjunctivitis, gonorrhoeal. 
Conjunctivitis of the globe. 
Conjunctivitis of the lids. 
Conjunctivitis of the n^w-born. 
Conjunctivitis, phlyctenular (scrofulous). 
Conjunctivitis, purulent. 
Conjunctivitis, pustular. 
Conjunctivitis, trachomatous. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
7 
Emphysema of the conjunctiva. 
Encanthus. 
Foreign bodies in the conjunctiva. 
Hypercemia of the conjunctiva. 
Lithiasis of the conjunctiva. 
Lymphangiectasia of the conjunctiva. 
Malformation of the conjunctiva. 
Metallic stains. 
Parasites in the conjunctiva. 
Pinguecula. 
Pterygium. 
Tumors of the conjunctiva. 
Ulcer of the conjunctiva. 
Wounds of the conjunctiva. 
Xerosis of the conjunctiva. 
Abscess of the cornea. 
Abrasion of the cornea. 
Arcus senilis. 
Cystoid scar. 
Deposit of lead in the cornea. 
Deposit of lime in the cornea. 
Fistula of the cornea. 
Foreign body in the cornea. 
Hernia of the cornea. 
Hydrophthalmus. 
Hypopyon. 
Keratitis, diffuse. 
Keratitis, bullosa. 
Keratitis, fascicular. 
Keratitis, neuro-paralytic. 
Keratitis, pannous. 
Keratitis, parenchymatous (interstitial). 
Keratitis, phlyctenular (scrofulous). 
Keratitis, punctate. 
Keratitis, purulent. 
Keratitis, superficial. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE CORNEA. 8 
Swan M. Burnett. 
Keratitis, syphilitic. 
Keratitis, traumatic. 
Kerato-conus. 
Kerato-globus. 
Kerato-iritis. 
Kerato-malacia. 
Leucoma-adherens. 
Leucoma of the cornea. 
Macula of the cornea. 
Onyx. 
Pannus, crassus. 
Pannus, tenuis. 
Resorption ulcer of the cornea. 
Serpent ulcer of the cornea. 
Sloughing of the cornea. 
Staphyloma of the cornea. 
Tumor of the cornea. 
Ulcer of the cornea, acute. 
Ulcer of the cornea, chronic. 
Ulcer of the cornea, marginal. 
Wounds of the cornea.* 
Xerosis of the cornea. 
Glaucoma, absolute. 
Glaucoma, acute. 
Glaucoma, chronic, 
Glaucoma, fulminans. 
Glaucoma, hemorrhagic. 
Glaucoma, imminent. 
Glaucoma, inflammatory. 
Glaucoma, secondary. 
Glaucoma, simple. 
Glaucoma, sympathetic. 
Glaucomatous degeneration. 
Essential phthisis bulbi. 
GLAUCOMA. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE IRIS AND CILIARY BODY. 
Atrophy of the irip. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
9 
Coloboma of the iris. 
Corectopia. 
Cyclitis, plastic. 
Cyclitis, purulent. 
Cyclitis, serous. 
Cyclitis, sympathetic. 
Cyst of the iris. 
Decoloration of the iris. 
Exclusion of the pupil. 
Foreign body in the iris. 
Gumma of the iris. 
Hernia, of the iris. 
Hemorrhage in the iris. 
Hyphamla. 
Irido-choroiditis, plastic. 
Irido-choroiditis, purulent. 
Irido-choroiditis, spongy (gelatinous). 
Irido-choroiditis, serous. 
Irido-cyclitis, plastic. 
Irido-cyclitis, purulent. 
Irido-cyclitis, serous. 
Irido-cyclitis, sympathetic. 
Irido-dialysis. 
Irido-plegia. 
Iritis, arthritic. 
Iritis, gonorrhoeal. 
Iritis, plastic. 
Iritis, purulent. 
Iritis, rheumatic. 
Iritis, serous. 
Iritis, spongy (gelatinous). 
Iritis, sympathetic. 
Iritis, syphilitic. 
Iritis, traumatic. 
Iritis, tuberculous. 
Irideremia. 
Mydriasis. 
Myosis. 10 
Swan M. Burnett. 
Occlusion of the pupil. 
Polycona. 
Persistent pupillary membrane. 
Reversion of the iris. 
Rudimentary iris. 
Rupture of the iris. 
Synechia anterior. 
Synechia posterior. 
Tremulous iris. 
Tumor of the iris. 
Wounds of the iris. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE LACHRYMAL APPARATUS. 
Abscess of the lachrymal gland. 
Atresia of the punctum. 
Caries of the fossa lacrymalis. 
Dacryo-adenitis. 
Dacryo-cystitis, catarrhal. 
Darcryo-cystitis, purulent. 
Double punctum. 
Dacryo-lithiasis. 
Eversion of the punctum. 
Exostosis of the nasal duct. 
Fistula of the lachrymal sac. 
Foreign body in the punctum. 
Fracture of the lachrymal bone. 
Fungi in the lachrymal canal. 
Inflammation of the lachrymal gland. 
Polypus of the lachrymal sac. 
Sanguinious lachrymation. 
Stillicidium lacrymarum (Epiphora). 
Stricture of the nasal duct. 
Tumor of the lachrymal gland. 
Aphakia. 
Capsulitis. 
Cataract, accreted. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE LENS. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
11 
Cataract, anterior polar. 
Cataract, axial. 
Cataract, black. 
Cataract, calcareous. 
Cataract, capsular. 
Cataract, complete. 
Cataract, congenital. 
Cataract, cortical. 
Cataract, diabetic. 
Cataract, fusiform. 
Cataract, hard. 
Cataract, hypermature. 
Cataract, incipient. 
Cataract, incomplete. 
Cataract, lamellar (zonular). 
Cataract, membranous. 
Cataract, morgagnian. 
Cataract, nuclear. 
Cataract, posterior polar. 
Cataract, punctate. 
Catasact, secondary. 
Cataract, senile. 
Cataract, soft. 
Cataract, spurious. 
Cataract, traumatic. 
Coloboma lentis. 
Dislocation of the lens. 
Ossification of the lens. 
Parasites in the lens. 
Phakitis. 
Lenticonus. 
Rupture of the lens capsule. 
Subluxation of the lens. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE LIDS. 
Ablepharon. 
Abscess of the lids. 
Acarus folliculorum. 12 
Swan M. Burnett. 
Ankyloblepharon. 
Anthrax of the lids. 
Blepharitis marginalis. 
Blepharo-adenitis. 
Blepharo-phimosis. 
Chalazion. 
Chromhidrosis (Blepharal melasma). 
Coloboma palpebrarum. 
Distichiasis. 
Ectropion. 
Elephantiasis palpebrarum. 
Emphysema of the lids. 
Entropion, organic. 
Entropion, spasmodic. 
Epicanthus. 
Erythema of the lids. 
Hsemophthalmus externus. 
Hsematidrosis. 
Haunatoma (black eye). 
Herpes of the lids. 
Hidrosis of the lids. 
Hordeolum. 
Hypereemia of the lids. 
Lagophthalmos. 
Madarosis. 
Nictitation. 
QCdema of the lids. 
Paralysis of the orbicularis. 
Phthiriasis ciliorum. 
Ptosis, atonic. 
Ptosis, congenital. 
Ptosis, paralytic. 
Seborrhcea. 
Symblepharon. 
Trichiasis. 
Tarsitis. 
Tumors of the lid. 
Verruca of the lids. 
Xanthelasma of the lids. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
13 
Blepharo-spasm. 
Insufficiency of the internal rectus. 
Insufficiency of the external rectus. 
Laceration of the ocular muscles. 
Nystagmus, acquired. 
Nystagmus, atonic. 
Nystagmus, congenital. 
Nystagmus, oscillating. 
Nystagmus, rotating. 
Nystagmus, tonic. 
Ophthalmopliegia externa (paralysis of all the external muscles 
of the eye). 
Ophthalmoplegia interna (paralysis of all the internal muscles of 
the eye). 
Paralysis of the ciliary muscles (cycloplegia) 
Paralysis of the external rectus muscle. 
Papalysis of the internal rectus muscle. 
Paralysis of the inferior oblique muscle. 
Paralysis of the levator palpebrte superioris muscle. 
Paralysis of the motor oculi communis muscle. 
Paralysis of the orbicularis muscle. 
Paralysis of the superior oblique muscle. 
Paralysis of the superior rectus muscle. 
Spasm of the ciliary muscle. 
Strabismus, bilateral. 
Strabismus, concomitant. 
Strabismus, convergent. 
Strabismus, divergent. 
Strabismus, downward. 
Strabismus, monolateral. 
Strabismus, paralytic. 
Strabismus, periodic. 
Strabismus, upward. 
Tendinitis. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE MUSCLES OF THE EYE. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE ORBIT AND GLOBE. 
Albinism. 
Anophthalmus. 14 
Swan M. Burnett. 
Abscess of the orbit. 
Bone, formation of, in the eye. 
Caries of the orbit. 
Cellulitis of the orbit. 
Dislocation of the eyeball. 
Effusion of blood in the orbit. 
Emphysema of the orbit. 
Enlargement of the frontal sinus. 
Exophthalmus. 
Fracture of the orbital bones. 
Herpes frontalis. 
Inflammation of the frontal sinus. 
Microphthalmus. 
Necrosis of the orbital bones. 
Panophthalmitis. 
Periostisis of the orbit. 
Phthisis bulbi. 
Tenonitis. 
Tumor ot the orbit. 
ANOMALIES OF REFRACTION. ACCOMMODATION AND VISION. 
Achromatopsia. 
Accommodation, spasm of. 
Amaurosis, hysterical. 
Amaurosis, partial, transient. 
Amaurosis, without ophthalmoscopic signs. 
Amblyopia, alcoholic. 
Amblyopia, congenital. 
Amblyopia, central. 
Amblyopia, saturnine. 
Amblyopia, tobacco. 
Amblyopia, toxic. 
Amblyopia, ex anopsia (from non-use). 
Amblyopia, hysterical. 
Ametropia. 
Anisometropia. 
Asthenopia, accommodative. 
Asthenopia, muscular. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
15 
Asthenopia, nervous. 
Astigmatism, compound (myopic or hypermetropic). 
Astigmatism, irregular. 
Astigmatism, mixed. 
Astigmatism, regular. 
Astigmatism, simple (myopic or hypermetropic). 
Blue-yellow blindness (Tiering). 
Chromatopsia. 
Color-blindness, acquired. 
Color-blindness, congenital. 
Concentric contraction of the visual field. 
Day-blindness. 
Diplopia, homonymous. 
Diplopia, crossed. 
Diplopia, vertical (up or down). 
Dyschromatopsia (feeble color-sense). 
Flittering scotoma. 
Green blindness. 
Hemianopsia, inferior. 
Hemianopsia, left. 
Hemianopsia, nasal. 
Hemianopsia, right. 
Hemianopsia, superior. 
Hemianopsia, temporal. 
Hypermetropia, axial. 
Hypermetropia, from deficient curvature of the refracting sur- 
faces. 
Hypermetropia, acquired. 
Hypermetropia, latent. 
Macropsia. 
Metamorphopsia. 
Micropsia. 
Moon-blindness. 
Muscae volitantes. 
Myopia, axial. 
Myopia, acquired. 
Myopia, from excessive curvature of the refracting surfaces. 
Myopia, false. 16 
Swan M. Barnett. 
Night blindness. 
Photopsia. 
Presbyopia. 
Polyopia, monocular. 
Red-blindness. 
Red-green blindness (Ilerbuj). 
Ring-scotoma. 
Scotoma. 
Scotoma, central. 
Sector-like defect of the visual held. 
Snow-blindness. 
Violet-blindness. 
AFFECTIONS OF TIIE IiETINA AND OPTIC NERVE. 
Amaurotic cat’s-eye. 
Anesthesia of the retina. 
Atrophy of the retina. 
Apoplexy of the retina. 
Atrophy of the optic nerve. 
Atrophy of the optic nerve, progressive. 
Chorio retinitis, diffuse. 
Chorio-retinitis, disseminated. 
Chorio-reti niti s, ci rcumscri bed. 
Commotio retime. 
Congestion of the optic disc. 
Cystic degeneration of the retina. 
Detachment of the retina. 
Dropsy of the optic nerve sheath. 
Epilepsy of the retina. 
Embolism of the central artery of the retina. 
Embolism of a branch of the central artery of the retina. 
Effusion under the retina. 
Excavation of the optic disc. 
Foreign body in the retina. 
Hyperaemia of the retina. 
Hyperesthesia of the retina. 
Ischaemia of the retina. 
Neuro-retinitis. 
Neuro-retinitis, ascending. Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
17 
Neuro-retinitis, descending. 
Neuritis, syphilitic. 
CEdema of the retina. 
CEdema of the optic disc. 
Opaque optic nerve fibers. 
Papillitis (choked disk.) 
Peripapillary degeneration of the retina. 
Perineuritis, optic. 
Perivasculitis, retinal. 
Retinitis, albuminuric. 
Retinitis, central. 
Retinitis, central recurring. 
Retinitis, chronic. 
Retinitis, circumpapillary. 
Retinitis, circumscribed. 
Retinitis, diabetic. 
Retinitis, diffuse. 
Retinitis, hemorrhagic. 
Retinitis, leuciemic. 
Retinitis, oxaluric. 
Retinitis, pigmentary. 
Retinitis, proliferating. 
Retinitis, pernicious anemic. 
Retinitis, sympathetic. 
Retinitis, syphilitic. 
Retrobulbar optic neuritis. 
Thrombosis of the retinal vessels. 
Tumors of the retina. 
Anterior scleral staphyloma. 
Episcleritis. 
Equatorial scleral staphyloma. 
Foreign body in the sclera. 
Posterior scleral staphyloma. 
Scleritis. 
Wounds of the sclera. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE SCLEROTIC. 
OPERATIONS ON THE EYE.1 
For pterygium. 
On the conjunctiva. 
1 There are about fifty titles in this list that are not to be found in that 
reported by the committee to the Royal College of Physicians. 18 
/Swan M. Burnett. 
Removal of tumors. 
Removal of foreign bodies. 
Syndectomy (peritomy). 
On the cornea and anterior chamber. 
Ablation of staphyloma. 
For cystoid scar. 
For serpent ulcer of the cornea (Saemisch). 
Paracentesis of the cornea. 
Removal of foreign bodies from the cornea. 
Removal of tumors from the cornea. 
Removal of foreign bodies from the anterior chamber. 
Tattooing of the cornea. 
On the globe and orbit. 
Enucleation of the globe. 
Exenteratio orbita?. 
Extraction of foreign bodies from the interior of thu eye. 
Neurectomy. 
Optico-ciliary neurotomy. 
Paracentesis of the walls of the globe. 
Puncture of the optic-nerve sheath. 
Removal of tumors from the orbit. 
Removal of tumors from the optic nerve. 
Sclerotomy. 
On the lain. 
For ankyloblepharon. 
Blepharoplasty. 
For destruction of the hair follicles. 
For ectropion. 
For entropion. 
For enlargement of the palpebral opening (canthotomy). 
For evacuation of cysts. 
For excision of piece of tarsal cartilage. 
For ptosis. 
For removal of tumors. 
For removal of hair bulbs. 
For removal of the tarsal cartilage. 
For the restoration of lid. 
For symblepharon. 
For tarsorrhaphy (diminishing of the palpebral opening). Nomenclature of Ophthalmology. 
19 
For trichiasis. 
Transplantation of the cilia. 
On the muscles. 
Tenotomy of the muscles (strabotomy). 
Advancement of a muscle. 
Excision of a piece of muscle. 
On the iris. 
Corelysis (Streatjield). - 
Detachment of posterior synechia (.Passavamt). 
Iridectomy. 
Iritomy. 
Irito-ectomy. 
Iridodesis. 
Removal of foreign body from the iris. 
On the lachrymal apparatus. 
Destruction of the lachrymal sac. 
Division of stricture of the nasal duct. 
Enlargement of the punctum. 
Extirpation of the lachrymal sac. 
For atresia of the punctum. 
Opening of the lachrymal sac. 
Probing the nasal duct. 
Removal of the lachrymal gland. 
Removal of tumors of the lachrymal gland. 
Slitting up the canaliculus. 
On the lens. 
For depression of cataract (couching). 
For extraction of cataract by the flap method. 
For extraction of cataract by the Graefe method. 
For extraction of cataract in the capsule. 
For extraction of cataract by the linear method. 
For extraction of cataract by the Weber method. 
For extraction of cataract by the sclero-corneal flap method. 
For scoop extraction. 
For secondary cataract. 
For solution of cataract. 
For removal of cataract by suction.