ophthalmia

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin obtalmia and Old French obtalmie, ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɒfˈθælmiə/, /ɒpˈθælmiə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɑpˈθælmiə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

ophthalmia (countable and uncountable, plural ophthalmias)

1. (medicine) Synonym of ophthalmitis (“inflammation of the eye”)
   • 1891 July, Fanny D. Bergen, “Animal and Plant Lore”, in Popular Science, page 377:

     Dr. Buck reports that the Swabians also believe in the efficacy of fasting spittle for sore eyes; and our never-failing Pliny records the Roman belief that ophthalmia may be cured by anointing the eyes every morning with fasting spittle.

Derived terms

• ophthalmia neonatorum

 

Related terms

• ophthalmo-

Translations

ophthalmitis

• Arabic: رَمَد (ar) m (ramad)
• Finnish: oftalmia
• French: ophtalmie (fr) f
• German: Ophthalmie f
• Irish: oftailme f
• Italian: oftalmite f, oftalmia f