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ophthalmic

C2
adjective

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ɒfθˈælmɪk/

US

  • /ɑfˈθælmɪk/

Description

If something is ophthalmic, it has to do with the eyes, especially in medicine or treatment. Think of eye drops, eye exams, or surgery for vision problems. It is a formal way of saying "related to the eyes," and you will often see it in medical or scientific writing. If someone has an ophthalmic problem, it means there is something going on with their eyes that may need care.

The word comes from the Greek ophthalmos, meaning "eye." So, when you hear about ophthalmic solutions or an ophthalmic exam, remember that it all comes back to keeping your eyes healthy and helping you see clearly. It is more formal than simply saying "eye," so you would not usually use it when talking about eye color, but you will often see it when discussing medical treatment.

Examples

  1. 1

    Surgery prep

    The clinic scheduled an ophthalmic exam before the cataract surgery.

  2. 2

    Eye medicine

    Use the ophthalmic ointment exactly as the doctor prescribed.

  3. 3

    Product label

    The label says "for ophthalmic use only," so do not use the drops in your ears or on your skin.

    • Phrase

      for ophthalmic use only

      only for use in the eye

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • ophthalmicadjective