Common Conditions of the Eye Flashcards
What are cataracts
Opacified lenses due to lens fibre damage
Causes of primary cataracts
UV exposure, Lack of blood supply, Failure to lose embryological fibres
Secondary Causes
Trauma, Steroids
What are nuclear sclerosis type cataracts
Age related increase in lens density. New fibres grow and compress the old ones, increasing density
Sutural and Zonular cataracts are what?
Heritable condition presenting in early childhood, can also be due to tetany or rickets
How are cataracts treated
Surgery, Lens capsule is opened and opacified lens is removed and replaced with a plastic one. Same day discharge.
What is Glaucoma
Increased intraocular pressure (IOP)
What is the most common form of glaucoma?
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma or POAG
How is Glaucoma usually diagnosed?
Routine eye exam - optic disk appears cupped and pale
How does visual impairment arise from raised IOP?
The pressure is felt by the nerves, which begin to die out. This causes an altered field of vision, eventual blindness
Non surgical treatments for glaucoma?
Prostaglandin analogues, Beta-Blockers, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Surgical treatments for glaucoma?
Trabeculoplasty or trabeculectomy
What is angle closure Glaucoma?
Acutely raised IOP due to phyisical obstruction of anterior chamber angle
Presenting symtpoms of angle closure glaucoma?
Pain, blurred or absent vision, headaches. (all acute onset)
Examination findings for angle closure glaucoma
Red eyes, opaque cornea, shallow anterior chamber, pupil mid dilated.
Management of acute Angle Closure Glaucoma episode
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (IV) analgesics, antiemetics, pilocarpine (constrictor eye drops), Beta Blocker drops (timolol), Steroid drops Laser iridotomy
Aetiology of primary open angle glaucoma
drainage through trabecular network blocked. Gradual IOP build up
What type of epithelium does the cornea have?
Stratified squamous non-keratinised
Examples of Inflammatory corneal pathology?
Corneal ulcers
Examples of non-inflammatory corneal pathologies?
dystrophy
opacification of cornea
What surgery can treat an opacified cornea?
Keratoplasty - corneal transplant
What is a non-inflammatory corneal dystophy?
Bilateral opacifying opacification, sometimes due to lipid accumulation, often genetically determined
What are the 2 main types of corneal dystrophy and what are they like?
Lattice (stromal) - deposition of amyloid material in the stroma of cornea.
Fuch’s endothelial - oedematous build up due to death of endothelial cells
What property of the cornea makes transplants particularly easy?
The cornea contains no vasculature, so is very unlikely to be recognised as foreign, so shouldn’t be rejected
