ophthalmology

noun

oph·​thal·​mol·​o·​gy ˌäf-thə(l)-ˈmä-lə-jē 

ˌäp-,

-ˌthal-

: a branch of medical science dealing with the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye

ophthalmologic

ˌäf-thə(l)-mə-ˈlä-jik 

ˌäp-

-ˌthal-

adjective

or ophthalmological

ˌäf-thə(l)-mə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

ˌäp-,

-ˌthal-

ophthalmologically

ˌäf-thə(l)-mə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

ˌäp-

-ˌthal-

adverb

Examples of ophthalmology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wells said in its upgrade of Glaukos that the ophthalmology company is attrative. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025

Steinemann, who trains ophthalmology residents, stresses that eye-care professionals should be primed to catch it. —Holly Burns, Time, 23 Oct. 2025

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which has long been ranked as No. 1 in the country for ophthalmology by U.S. News & World Report. —Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025

In fact, two of the most successful examples to date come from entirely different disease areas—hematology and ophthalmology—demonstrating the platform’s core versatility. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Ophthalmologie, from ophthalmo- ophthalmo- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ophthalmology

• aetiology
• anthropology
• archaeology
• archeology
• audiology
• cardiology
• climatology
• cohomology
• cosmetology
• criminology
• demonology
• dermatology

Kids Definition

ophthalmology

noun

oph·​thal·​mol·​o·​gy ˌäf-thə(l)-ˈmäl-ə-jē 

ˌäp-,

-ˌthal-

: a branch of medical science dealing with the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye

Medical Definition

ophthalmology

noun

oph·​thal·​mol·​o·​gy -ˈmäl-ə-jē 

plural ophthalmologies

: a branch of medical science dealing with the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye

ophthalmologic

-mə-ˈläj-ik 

adjective

or ophthalmological

-i-kəl 

ophthalmologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb