Chapter 4: Systemic Diseases and Ocular Manifestations Flashcards
Cardiovascular System
The body system consisting of the heart and blood vessels, and is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body. The
Respiratory System
The structure primarily involved in exchanging oxygen and carbon monoxide, and includes the nasal passages, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
Endocrine System
The body system consisting of multiple glands that produce chemicals called hormones, which regulate various body processes.
Hormones
Regulating substances produced by endocrine glands (thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal), and transported by the blood to targeted organs to initiate a specific reaction or effect.
Nervous System
The body system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
Myasthenia Gravis
A chronic autoimmune disease that interferes with proper nerve transmission in skeletal muscles, causing selective muscle weakness.
Signs: Ptosis, Diplopia, limited eye movements
Treatments: systemic medication (corticosteroids)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
A chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling and joint damage.
Signs: Dry eye, Uveitis, Scleritis, Episcleritis, and Corneal Ulcers
Treatment: otc eyedrops, Cyclosporine eyedrops, ointments, Punctal occlusion, topical steroids (to treat inflammation), or systemic corticosteroids.
Sarcoidosis
A condition that causes inflammation and microscopic nodules called Granulomas.
Signs: Uveitis, Iritis, Vitritis, and Synechiae
Treatment: topical or system corticosteroids
Granulomas
A firm collection of a specific kind of inflammatory cell
Synechiae
An adhesion of the iris to either the cornea of the lens
Sjogren Syndrome
A condition that causes dry eyes and dry mouth, and can be associated with some autoimmune conditions.
Signs: Dry Eye and dry mouth
Symptoms: Dryness, light sensitivity, burning, foreign body sensation
Treatment: OTC eyedrops, topical corticosteroids
Systemic Lupus Erythematous
A systemic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks various tissues throughout the body. Primarily seen in women
Symptoms: Dry eyes, scleritis, retinal vasculitis
Treatment: systemic corticosteroids
Thyroid Eye Disease
A condition of unknown origin that involves the thyroid gland and causes soft tissue swelling around the globe.
Symptoms: Proptosis, restricted eye movements, eyelids struggling to close, exposure keratopathy
Treatment: relief for dry eye symptoms
Exposure Keratopathy
The pathologic change that occurs to the cornea when it is partially or completely unprotected by the eyelids for extended periods of time
Multiple Sclerosis
A chronic disease of the nervous system affecting the white matter of the spinal cord and brain
Symptoms: optic neuritis
Diabetes Mellitus
A disorder of the metabolism resulting from insufficient or absent insulin production from the pancreas
Symptoms: intermittent blurriness, gradual worsening of vision, increase in floaters, difficulty seeing in the dark
Cerebral Vascular Accident
An event where the brain does not get enough blood due to a blood clot or bleeding, which results in brain damage/stroke
Symptoms: Visual field defect, transient vision loss
Embolus
A plaque of cholesterol, a clot of blood, or calcium, that can occlude blood vessels anywhere in the body
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Obstruction of blood flow in the main feeder vessel of the retina
Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion
Obstruction of blood flow in a tributary blood vessel of the central retinal artery
Giant Cell Arteritis, or Temporal Arteritis
A systemic autoimmune condition with invasion of large inflammatory cells in arteries that can cause obstruction of the central retinal artery, leading to blindness
Symptoms: headaches/tenderness in scalp, jaw pain from chewing, body aches and weight loss
Treatment: steroids
Migraine
A condition that produces intense headaches, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, ocular auras (scintillations= flashing and whirling lights)
Hypertension
High blood pressure impairing blood circulation and damages blood vessels (including the eye)
Symptoms: retinal hemorrhages
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
An infection of the HIV virus that causes a compromised immune system.
Most common eye infections are CMV, Karposi sarcoma, Herpes Zoster
Chlamydial Infections
An infection of the chlamydial virus that can have ocular symptoms.
Symptoms: redness, discharge
Treatment: systemic antibiotic
Chlamydiae
A type of bacteria
Herpes Infections
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
A condition where the varicella zoster virus can cause a painful blistering rash that involves the forehead and eyelids, uveitis, corneal inflammation, and other intraocular conditions
Varicella-Zoster
A herpes virus that produces chicken pox, the skin zoster (shingles), and herpes zoster ophthalmicus
Herpes Simplex
A type of virus that infects the cornea, producing dendritic keratitis
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
A herpes virus that causes recurrent fever blisters on the lips and mouth, and can cause keratitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis.
Symptoms: light sensitivity, eye pain, blurred vision
Treatment: Systemic viral medication, topical antivirals
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2
A herpes virus that causes recurrent fever blisters on the genitals
Histoplasmosis
A type of fungus that is commonly found in the soil and animal droppings in certain areas of the US, and can cause mild infections in humans.
Symptoms: flu-like symptoms, subretinal hemorrhages, choroidal scarring
Ocular Histoplasmosis
Retinal changes presumed to be caused by the Histoplama microorganism with some lesions affecting the macula, resulting in loss of central vision
Syphilis
A highly contagious, sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria.
Symptoms: inflammation, uveitis, retinal vasculitis, optic neuropathy
Treatment: penicillin
Toxoplasmosis
An infection caused by the Toxoplasma gondii protozoan, that is passed from contact with animal feces
Symptoms: uveitis, vitritis, and retinochoroiditis
Metastatic Carcinoma
Cancer that has produced tumors in secondary locations away from the primary tumor.
In the eye, metastatic cancer tends to originate from the breast or lung
Blood Dyscrasias
Any abnormal or pathologic condition of the blood, such as Leukemia. It can adversely affect the optic nerve and retina blood vessels, and these changes are often seen before visual symptoms appear.
Cerebral Neoplasms
A brain tumor, which can lead to increased intracranial pressure, visual field defects, nausea, vomiting, vision loss, strabismus, diplopia, papilledema, and nystagmus
Treatment: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy
