Common Ocular Abbreviations for the Ophthalmic Technician


OD: right eye

OS: left eye

OU: both eyes

CC: with correction

SC: without correction

BCVA: best-corrected visual acuity

NVA: near visual acuity

PH: pinhole 

CF: counting fingers

LP: light perception

NLP: no light perception 

RGP: rigid gas permeable contacts

Sph: sphere

Cyl: cylinder 

Pharmaceutical abbreviations

QD: once per day

QOD: every other day

QAM: once in the morning

QHS: once at bedtime

BID: twice per day

TID: three times per day

QID: four times per day

Q_hr (Q1hr, Q2hr, etc.): once per x hour(s)

PRN: as needed

Gtt: drop

Ung: ointment

Charting/scribing abbreviations: 

UL: upper lids

BUL: bilateral upper lids

LL: lower lids

BLL: bilateral lower lids

AC: anterior chamber

D&Q: deep and quiet

K: corneal keratometry, sometimes shorthand for cornea

IOL: intraocular lens

PCIOL: Posterior Chamber IOL (standard IOL located behind the iris)

ACIOL: Anterior Chamber IOL (located in front of the iris, less common, due to ocular structural abnormalities or surgical complications primarily)

IOP: intraocular pressure

C/D: cup-to-disk ratio 

FB: foreign body

PPA: peri-papillary atrophy

DFE: dilated fundus exam

ERM: epiretinal membrane, sometimes referred to as macular pucker

DR: diabetic retinopathy

Hx: history

Dx: diagnosis

DDx: differential diagnosis

LASIK: laser in-situ keratomileusis

PRK: photorefractive keratectomy

FLACS: femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery

NS: nuclear sclerotic cataract

PSC: posterior subcapsular cataract

PCO: posterior capsular opacity

POAG: primary open-angle glaucoma 

LTG: low tension glaucoma

PVD: posterior vitreous detachment

RD: retinal detachment

RK: radial keratotomy

SPK: superficial punctate keratitis

PEE: punctate epithelial erosions, used to document dry spots on the cornea

Dr. Stephanie Mulick

My name is Dr. Stephanie Mulick. I am an Optometrist at the Tayani Institute. I hope you have found this information helpful. Feel free to come back anytime for more ocular health information.

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