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

An ophthalmology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dunaief knows too much about the risks to leave his shades at home. —Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Aug. 2025

Since its founding in 1990, Shiley Eye Institute has always incorporated both clinical care and ophthalmology research. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025

Today, Biocon has 20 drugs in oncology, immunology, diabetes and ophthalmology either on the market or in the works globally. —Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025

Patient recruitment is a significant challenge, particularly for diseases with small or highly specific patient populations, such as rare diseases, oncology and ophthalmology. —Sujay Jadhav, Forbes.com, 4 June 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