Anterior Chamber Disorders Flashcards
Open-angle Glaucoma
- Optic neuropathy results in progressive loss of retinal ganglion cell axons.
- Peripheral visual fields lost first, then central vision, then blindness
How does open angle glaucoma progress?
Peripheral fields —> Central vision —> Blindness
Glaucoma Sequelae
- Slowly progressive irreversible damage to the optic nerve.
- Loss of vision goes unnoticed until severe
Primary Open-angle Glaucoma (POAG) Symptoms
- Symptoms are rarely experienced
- No loss of visual acuity as long as central vision is preserved.
- Irreversible
How is POAG diagnosed?
- Characteristic nerve damage on fundis exam and elevated intraocular pressures.
- Cupping
Cupping
- A cup that is greater than 50% of the vertical disc diameter.
- Glaucoma can cause the cup to enlarge
- Cup gets bigger in a vertical oval type pattern.
Optic Cup
- White, cup-like area in the center of the optic disc.
- Normal cup/disc ratio is 1/3
- There is some normal variation here
Do all patients with open angle glaucoma have elevated IOP?
No, not all patients with OAG have elevated IOP.
IOP > 40. what should you do?
Emergency Referral.
IOP 30-40. what should you do?
Urgent referral within 24 hrs.
Screening recommendations
- 40-60 yrs w/o risk factors: ever 3-5 yrs.
- Every 1-2 yrs w/ risk factors
- Periodic exams for black men and women btw ages 20-39.
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma (AACG)
Occurs only with closure of a pre-existing narrow anterior chamber angle.
What brings on AACG
Dark theatre, pharmacological Mydriasis, anticholinergenics,
AACG symptoms
- Rapid Onset
- Severe eye pain/HA
- Profound visual loss
- May have photophobia
- N/V
AACG signs
Conjunctival redness
Corneal edema or cloudiness
Shallow anterior chamber
Mid-dilated pupil not reactive to light