AOC - Big Three Flashcards
What is: Age Related Macular Degeneration
Progressive loss of central vision
Signs: Age Related Macular Degeneration (4 points)
Drusen
Degeneration of retina
Choroidal vessel become visible
New/weak blood vessels form
What is Drusen
Pale spots of extracellular material in basal lamina of choroid which is associated with ARMD and irregular pigment
What makes ARMD wet?
When the new blood vessels form, they’re weak and leak fluid/blood into the retina causing it to lift from the pigment epithelium
What is a result of Wet ARMD
Scarring and destruction of photoreceptors
Symptoms: DRY Age Related Macular Degeneration (3 points)
Gradual deterioration of visual acuity over a few years
Difficulty reading and task requiring detailed vision
Peripheral unaffected
Symptoms: WET Age Related Macular Degeneration (3 points)
Can notice distortion of central vision
Blurring of vision
Rapid progression
Cause: Age Related Macular Degeneration (2 points)
Believed to be degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium
Failure of these to breakdown waste products of retinal photoreceptors causes these to degenerate
Risk factors for ARMD (6 points)
Age Smoking Excessive sunlight exposure Female Obesity Family history of ARMD
Treatment: WET Age Related Macular Degeneration (2 points)
Photodynamic Therapy - injection of light sensitive drug into veins, laser then directed at new blood vessels behind retina to activate drug and destroy them.
Injection every 6 weeks for 2 years to prevent the growth of new blood vessels
Treatment: DRY Age Related Macular Degeneration (1 points)
No effective treatment currently available
Advice for ARMD individuals (4 points)
Should retain periphery vision, unlikely to be completely blind
Dietary advice
Vitamin supplements can be considered
Treatment doesn’t restore vision but slows/prevents deterioration
What is Diabetic Retinopathy (3 points)
Term used to describe retina complications of diabetes.
Major cause of serious visual loss
More likely to occur the longer they’ve been diabetic
Signs: Diabetic Retinopathy (7 points)
Microaneurysms - bulges in capillary walls
Retinal haemorrhages - round or flame shaped
Hard Exudates - white, often circular deposits
Cotton-wool spots - fluffy looking deposits
Retinal oedema - fluid build up in retinal layers
Neovascularisation - formation of new blood vessels
Vitreous haemorrhages - bleeding of new weak vessels
Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy (4 points)
Background Retinopathy
Preproliferative Retinopathy
Proliferative Retinopathy
Diabetic Maculopathy
Background Retinopathy (4 points)
Microaneurysms
Retinal haemorrhages
Hard Exudates
(Treatment not required unless reaches macular)
Preproliferative Retinopathy
Background retinopathy with addition of cotton wool spots and irregular blood vessels