Chapter 4: Systemic Diseases and Ocular Manifestations

Question 1

Cardiovascular System

Answer 1

The body system consisting of the heart and blood vessels, and is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body. The

Question 2

Respiratory System

Answer 2

The structure primarily involved in exchanging oxygen and carbon monoxide, and includes the nasal passages, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

Question 3

Endocrine System

Answer 3

The body system consisting of multiple glands that produce chemicals called hormones, which regulate various body processes.

Question 4

Hormones

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Nervous System

Answer 5

The body system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves

Question 6

Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 6

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)

Question 7

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Sarcoidosis

Answer 8

A condition that causes inflammation and microscopic nodules called Granulomas.
Signs: Uveitis, Iritis, Vitritis, and Synechiae
Treatment: topical or system corticosteroids

Question 9

Granulomas

Answer 9

A firm collection of a specific kind of inflammatory cell

Question 10

Synechiae

Answer 10

An adhesion of the iris to either the cornea of the lens

Question 11

Sjogren Syndrome

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Systemic Lupus Erythematous

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Thyroid Eye Disease

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Exposure Keratopathy

Answer 14

The pathologic change that occurs to the cornea when it is partially or completely unprotected by the eyelids for extended periods of time

Question 15

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 15

A chronic disease of the nervous system affecting the white matter of the spinal cord and brain
Symptoms: optic neuritis

Question 16

Diabetes Mellitus

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Cerebral Vascular Accident

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Embolus

Answer 18

A plaque of cholesterol, a clot of blood, or calcium, that can occlude blood vessels anywhere in the body

Question 19

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Answer 19

Obstruction of blood flow in the main feeder vessel of the retina

Question 20

Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion

Answer 20

Obstruction of blood flow in a tributary blood vessel of the central retinal artery

Question 21

Giant Cell Arteritis, or Temporal Arteritis

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Migraine

Answer 22

A condition that produces intense headaches, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, ocular auras (scintillations= flashing and whirling lights)

Question 23

Hypertension

Answer 23

High blood pressure impairing blood circulation and damages blood vessels (including the eye)
Symptoms: retinal hemorrhages

Question 24

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Answer 24

An infection of the HIV virus that causes a compromised immune system.
Most common eye infections are CMV, Karposi sarcoma, Herpes Zoster

Question 25

Chlamydial Infections

Answer 25

An infection of the chlamydial virus that can have ocular symptoms.
Symptoms: redness, discharge
Treatment: systemic antibiotic

Question 26

Chlamydiae

Answer 26

A type of bacteria

Question 27

Herpes Infections

Question 28

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Varicella-Zoster

Answer 29

A herpes virus that produces chicken pox, the skin zoster (shingles), and herpes zoster ophthalmicus

Question 30

Herpes Simplex

Answer 30

A type of virus that infects the cornea, producing dendritic keratitis

Question 31

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

Answer 32

A herpes virus that causes recurrent fever blisters on the genitals

Question 33

Histoplasmosis

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Ocular Histoplasmosis

Answer 34

Retinal changes presumed to be caused by the Histoplama microorganism with some lesions affecting the macula, resulting in loss of central vision

Question 35

Syphilis

Answer 35

A highly contagious, sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria.
Symptoms: inflammation, uveitis, retinal vasculitis, optic neuropathy
Treatment: penicillin

Question 36

Toxoplasmosis

Answer 36

An infection caused by the Toxoplasma gondii protozoan, that is passed from contact with animal feces
Symptoms: uveitis, vitritis, and retinochoroiditis

Question 37

Metastatic Carcinoma

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Blood Dyscrasias

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Cerebral Neoplasms

Answer 39

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