1: Glaucoma Flashcards
Define glaucoma
Group of eye diseases that result in damage to optic nerve with or without raised IOP
What are the two types of glaucoma
Open-angle
Close-angle
What is open glaucoma
Iris does not obstruct the trabecular meshwork - enabling drainage of aqueous humour. This presents as a gradual loss of peripheral vision until late stages
What is close angle glaucoma
Iris obstructs the trabecular meshwork - preventing drainage of aqueous humour
What type of glaucoma is an emergency
Close-angle glaucoma
What are the 3 chambers of the eye
Anterior Aqueous Chamber
Posterior Aqueous Chamber
Posterior vitreous chamber
What is the anterior aqueous chamber
From lens to cornea
What is the posterior aqueous chamber
From lens to iris
What is the vitreous chamber
lens to retina
Explain circulation of aqueous humour and pathology in glaucoma
- Aqueous humour is produced by ciliary epithelium and released into posterior chamber.
- It passes from posterior chamber to anterior chamber
- It is drained from anterior chamber by canal of schlemm to episcleral venous
- If this is occluded, pressure may increase to cause intraocular HTN
- High pressure can damage optic.N
What defines intraocular HTN in mmHg
> 21
What defines intra-ocular HTN in kPa
> 2.8kPa
What patients is open-angle glaucoma more common in
> 40
Female
Eastern-Asian
What are the two types of open-angle glaucoma
Primary
Secondary
What is primary angle close glaucoma
Idiopathic
What is a risk factor for primary angle-closure glaucoma and why
Hypermetropia (Long-sightedness) as this means a shorter eyeball increasing risk of the iris occluding the trabecular meshwork
What is secondary angle-closure glaucoma
Due to trauma
Why does traumatic haemorrhage cause angle-closure glaucoma
Traumatic haemorrhage pushes the posterior chamber forward increasing risk if will occlude the trabecular meshwork
What are 3 risk factors for angle-closure glaucoma
- Hypermetropia
- Cataracts
- Cyclopentolate
What medication may precipitate angle-closure glaucoma
Cyclopentolate used for uveitis
How does acute angle-closure glaucoma present clinically
Acute-onset:
- Blurring vision, Halos at night
- Severe eye pain followed by headache
- Red-eye
- Eye watering
- N+V
How will the pupil present in angle-closure glaucoma
Fixed mid-dilated pupil
What should be avoided in acute angle-closure glaucoma and why
Dark rooms and eye-patches as they cause pupil dilation further narrowing the network
What should happen with acute angle-closure glaucoma
Immediate referral to opthalmology
What is used to look at the eye in acute angle-closure glaucoma
Goinoscopy
What does a goinoscopy look at
Goinoscopy - able to look at the iridocorneal angle
Why do patients need an urgent referral to ophthalmology
For intra-ocular pressure monitoring and medication
What 3 medications should be started in acute angle-closure glaucoma
B-blockers
Acetazolamide
Pilocarpine
How can the medications for acute angle-closure glaucoma be remembered
BAP
What B-blocker is given in acute glaucoma and how
topical Timolol
What is the role of timolol
stops aqueous humour production
how is pilocarpine given
topical
what is the role of pilocarpine
causes pupil constriction = increasing iridocorneal angle
how is acetazolamide given
IV
what is the role of acetazolamide
stops aqueous humour production
in addition to 3 key medications, what may be offered for acute angle-closure glaucoma
anti-emetic
analgesia
what is the long-term management of acute angle-closure glaucoma
YAG laser peripheral iridectomy