Chapter 18 - Ophtho Flashcards
What are the four parts of vision screening?
I-ARM
- inspection
- acuity assessment
- red reflex testing
- motility assessment
Describe visual acuity at birth and how it changes during infancy.
visual acuity is very poor at birth (~20/200) because of immaturity of the visual centers in the brain, but it improves rapidly during the first 3-4 months of life as a clear, in-focus retinal image stimulates functional and structural development of the visual centers of the brain
List six disorders that would present as an abnormal red reflex.
- cataract
- vitreous hemorrhage
- retinoblastoma
- anisometropia
- strabismus
- glaucoma
Normal visual development in the early months of life is dependent on what two things?
proper eye alignment and equal visual stimulation of each retina with clearly focused images
When is visual development most critical?
during the first 3-4 months of life
Define amblyopia.
poor vision caused by abnormal visual stimulation that results in abnormal visual development; remember that proper development of acuity in the first 3-4 months of life requires proper eye alignment and equal visual stimulation of each retina with focused images
Amblyopia
- poor vision caused by abnormal visual stimulation that results in abnormal visual development
- it is the most common cause of decreased vision during childhood
- may be caused by eye misalignment (strabismus) or a condition that causes blurred vision (e.g. cataract, severe uncorrected refractive error, significant differences in refractive errors between the eye, or virtuous opacities)
- the severity of the condition depends on when the abnormal stimulus began, length of exposure, and severity of the blurring
- the red reflex test is the best screening test in preverbal children and formal acuity testing is best in older children
- manage by correcting any refractive errors or by surgical removal of cataracts and patching the normal eye to force use of the amblyopic eye which stimulates development
How is amblyopia managed?
- treatment of the underlying cause
- patching of the normal eye, which forces reliance on and development of the amblyopic eye
Contrast gonococcal and chlamydial neonatal conjunctivitis.
- gonococcal has an onset between 2-4 days of life with more severe eyelid swelling, profuse purulent discharge, and eventual corneal ulceration; it should be treated with a single IM dose of cefotaxime and topical erythromycin
- chlamydial as an onset of 4-10 days with mild eyelid swelling and a more watery, seroanguineous, or mucopurulent eye discharge; treatment is with PO erythromycin
HSV Neonatal Conjunctivitis
- presents 6-14 days after birth, typically with unilateral serous discharge
- find multinucleate giant cells on gram stain and culture is positive for HSV
- treated with IV acyclovir and topical trifluorothymidine
Chemical Neonatal Conjunctivitis
- caused by drops or ointment, particularly 1% silver nitrate, which is why we use the less irritating 0.5% erythromycin now
- presents in the first 24 hours of life with a water discharge and resolves within 24 hours without treatment
- conjunctival studies demonstrate a negative gram stain and few PMNs
What is blepharitis?
eyelide inflammation
Unilateral conjunctivitis in an older child suggests what?
- foreign body
- corneal ulcer
- herpes simplex keratitis
Conjunctivitis associated with contact lens use in older children is suggestive of what?
- allergy to the contact solution
- corneal abrasion
- vision-threatening bacterial corneal ulcer
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
- most often caused by non-tapeable H. influenzae, Strep pneumonia, Moraxella catarrhalis, or S. aureus
- presents with a purulent discharge, conjunctival erythema, and lid swelling bilaterally
- there is typically no lymphadenopathy
- culture and gram stain are rarely performed unless the case is severe and treatment is empiric
- treatment is with topical antibiotics including sulfacetamide, polymyxin B, trimethoprim sulfate, gentamicin, tobramycin, and erythromycin
What are the distinguishing features of viral conjunctivitis?
presents with minimal watery discharge, preauricular lymphadenopathy, and a negative gram stain
Pharyngoconjunctival Fever
- caused by adenovirus
- it is a URI that includes pharyngitis, fever, and bilateral conjunctivitis characterized by severe watery discharge, chemises, lymphadenopathy, and a foreign body sensation caused by corneal involvement
- it is highly contagious
- treated with cool compress and topical NSAIDs
Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis
- caused by adenovirus
- it presents with petechial conjunctival hemorrhage, preauricular lymphadenopathy, a pseudomembrane along the conjunctiva, photophobia from corneal inflammation
- lacks fever or pharyngitis
- highly contagious
- treatment is supportive
Primary Ocular Herpes Simplex Virus
- caused by HSV-1 and often representing the initial exposure to the virus
- presents with multiple vesicular lesions and may cause a corneal ulcer
- diagnosed based on positive viral culture or DFA of vesicular fluid
- treated with systemic or topical acyclovir and topical antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection
Allergic Conjunctivitis
- a type I hypersensitivity reaction
- characterized by marked, bilateral itching and watery or mucoid discharge; there is no lymphadenopathy
- eosinophils can be found on conjunctival scraping
- treated with removal of allergens, topical mast cell stabilizers, and topical antihistamines
Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis
- caused by H. influenzae, adenovirus, or picornavirus
- presents with conjunctivitis and subconjunctival hemorrhage
Blepharitis
- eyelide inflammation usually caused by S. aureus
- presents with burning, crusting, and scales at the eyelash base; broken or absent eyelashes; and a history of awakening in the morning with eyelashes stuck together
- treat with eyelid hygiene and topical erythromycin
Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
- a failure of complete canalization of the lacrimal system resulting in obstruction to tear outflow, most often distally at Hasner’s valve
- presents with a watery eye and increased tear lake, matted eyelashes, and mucus in the medial canthum; it is often bilateral
- half of cases resolve spontaneously within 6 months while the other half require NLD probing; until then, nasolacrimal massage and topical antibiotics are the preferred treatment
Amniotocele
- a swelling of the nasolacrimal sac
- caused by accumulation of fluid as a result of NLD obstruction
- presents with bluish swelling in the medial cantonal area, which represents fluid sequestered in the nasolacrimal sac, and infection may occur with warmth, erythema, and tenderness
- treat with local massage and IV antibiotics plus urgent NLD probing if infection is present