4 - Decreased Vision Classification and Management Flashcards
Decreased vision from K or lens abnormalities may show what?
Generalized reduction of sensitivity on automated perimetry testing
Maculopathy characteristics
- No APD unless extensive retinal abnormality
- Parallel loss of color and VA unlike optic neuropathy EXCEPT in cone dystrophy where patients have severe color impairment without decreased VA
- VF Defects focal and central (macula) unlike optic neuropathies where VF defect larger, cecocentral (from blind spot at optic nerve temporally to fixation centrally) and associated with generalized depression of visual field sensitivity
- Metamorphopsia
- OCT, autofluorscence, FA used
- Maculopathies and retinopathies with normal DFE findings may be mistaken for optic nerve disease → AIBSE, AZOOR, MEWDS, cone dystrophy
- May show mild ONH pallor in chronic retinopathies

AIBSE/AZOOR/MEWDS
- AIBSE → prominent visual symptom monocular scotoma temporal in location associated with photopsias. Main findings is enlarged blind spot. DFE may be normal, or show ONH edema, peripapillary retinal lesions, choroiditis, uveitis, RPE changes
- AZOOR → similar to AIBSE + more extensive retinal changes
- MEWDS → DFE may show small deep retinal white spots lasting for several weeks and resolve spontaneously or normal DFE, photopsias prominent symptom reflecting outer retinal disease
- FA, ICG abnormal
- All diseases may show small APD

Cone Dystrophy
- Characterized by gradually progressive decline in visual acuity and color vision that may be mistaken as bilateral optic neuropathy
- Photophobia and hemeralopia (day blindness) common
- DFE may be normal or show slightly blunted foveal reflex with granular macular pigmentation, as disease progresses macular RPE becomes atrophic in central oval region (bull’s eye)
- OCT thinning of outer layers, loss of EZ zone, multifocal ERG with central depression
CAR
- Bilateral progressive vision loss and decreased color vision that may be asymmetric in onset
- Associated with photopsias, nyctalopia, ring scotoma, peripheral/central visual field loss, impaired dark adaption
- Small cell lung carcinoma most common
- DFE may be normal but ERG with decreased amplitudes
- As disease progresses, arterioles attenuated, RPE thinned, ONH atrophic
- Vision loss typically severe
- Recoverin antibodies only + in minority of patients
- If clinical suspicion high → look for underlying cancer
MAR
- Mostly affects Rod cells.
- Associated with photopsias, nyctalopia, prominent peripheral visual field loss
- Rapidly develops weeks to months or sudden onset
- Usually patient with previous melanoma
- Antibody to TRPM1 cation channel may be seen
- DFE normal or with RPE irregularity, arterial attenuation, ONH pallor
- Full-field ERG with rod dysfunction; multifocal ERG measures photopic responses of cones thus normal
- Visual function may remain stable and nonprogressive
- No Tx
Autoimmune retinopathy nonparaneoplastic
- Variable presentation diagnosis of exclusion
- 50% associated with autoimmune disease
- Usually cone-system dysfunction
Optic Neuropathy
- VA decreased, VF loss, dyschromatopsia, RAPD
- ONH may be normal, acutely swollen
- Optic atrophy (pallor) takes 4-6 weeks to develop even after vision has recovered
- VF defects from
- papillomacular fibers
- arcuate fibers
- nasal radiating fibers

Papillomacular Fiber Scotomas
- Cecocentral → ON (blind spot) to fovea (fixation)
- Paracentral → Next to and around fixation
- Cental → fixation

Paracentral Scotoma

Pericentral Scotoma
Involves region symmetrically surrounding fixation
Arcuate Fibers
- Arcuate scotoma → nerve fiber bundle defect
- Altitudinal defect → broader region of arcuate fibers involving 2 quadrants
- Nasal step → temporal portion of arcuate fibers
All fibers along temporal horizontal raphe thus damage produces defects that respect nasal horizontal meridian
Arcuate Scotoma

Altitudinal Defect

Nasal Step

Nasal Radiating Fibers
Temporal wedge defect from damage to nasal radiating fibers

Nasal Retina?
- Papillomacular fibers (nasal to fixation) + Nasal radiating fibers (nasal to blind spot)
Absolute Vs. Relative Scotoma

Optic Neuropathy Causes


Papilledema
- ONH edema + elevated ICP
- Acute papilledema → hyperemia of ONH, dilation of ONH capillary net, telangiectasia of radial peripapillary vessels, edematous peripapillary RNFL grayish white and opalescent with feathered, striated margins that obscure ONH edge and retinal vessels
- Must rule out pseudopapilledema 1st step → hyperemia, flame hemorrhages, telangiectasia, opacification of peripapillary RNFL suggest true ONH edema. Most causes of pseudopapilledema DO NOT cause obscuration of vessels
- Most cases of pseudopapilledema result from ONH drusen
- Hyaloid remnants and glial tissue on ONH surface
- Small scleral canal creating fullness of ONH from entry of ON
- ONH fullness associated with hyperopia
- Vitreopapillary traction
- Myelinated nerve fiber layer → when contiguous may be mistaken for ONH edema or CWS

Stages of Papilledema
- Starts inferior and superior poles → nasal ONH creating a C-shaped area of ONH edema sparing temporal rim
- Halo becomes circumferential and blurs vessels off ONH
- Loss of major vessels on ONH and absence of cup
Papilledema ophthalmoscope findings
- Absence of SVPs may reflect ICP → 20% gen population no SVPs but important to document
- ONH and peripapillary CWS, exudates, hemorrhage
Papilledema symptoms
- HA, nausea, vomiting, TVOs (uni/bilateral lasting seconds) → grayouts, whiteouts, blackouts with orthostatic changes
- Early papilledema → ON function & VA and Colors normal, pupils normal. VF may show enlargement of blind spot
Myelinated nerve fiber layer

































