refraction

refraction definition - medical

re·frac·tion (rĭ-frăkˈshən)

noun
  1. The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different density.
  2. The ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina.
  3. Determination of the refractive characteristics of the eye and often the correction of refractive defects with lenses. Also called refringence.

Related Forms:

  • re·fracˈtion·al, re·fracˈtive adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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