Common Eye Conditions

Question 1

What is a cause of central artery occlusion and how is it treated?

Answer 1

Can be caused by an embolus thrown off in hypertensive patients.
Causes afferent pupillary response.
Screen for risk factors to do with hypertension and act appropriately.

Question 2

What is a cause of central vein occlusion and how is it treated?

Answer 2

Hypertension causes hardening of the arteries of the eye that harden and press on the central veins.
Causes fluid and bleeding in the retina and macula.
Treat the risk factors and the eye with intravitreal anti vegF.

Question 3

What are the two causes of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy and how is it treated?

Answer 3

Arteritic-giant cell arteritis that has associated symptoms and is treated with high does steroids
Non arteritic-atheroma, can only deal with risk factors.

Question 4

What are causes of cataracts?

Answer 4

Ageing
Glaucoma
Familial
Mother had infection
Diabetes
Wilson's disease
Certain drugs (corticosteroids)
Hypocalcaemia

Question 5

What is primary open angle glaucoma?

Answer 5

Slow onset of peripheral field vision loss due to build up of aqueous humour increasing the IOP to 70mmHg.

Question 6

What is the treatment for primary open angle glaucoma?

Answer 6

Eye drops to decrease IOP
-Prostaglandin analogues
-Beta-blockers
-Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Laser trabeculoplasty
Trabeculectomy surgery

Question 7

How does angle closure glaucoma present?

Answer 7

Ophthalmic emergency
Acute vision loss with headache and red eye. Aqueosu compartment is narrow and the angle is lost shown on slit lamp photo.

Question 8

What is the treatment for angle closure glaucoma?

Answer 8

Decrease IOP
-IV infusion with or without oral therapy – carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (acetazolamide)
-Analgesics, antiemetics
-Constrictor eye drops – pilocarpine
-If no contraindication beta-blocker drops such as timolol
-Steroid eye drops (dexamethasone)
Iridotomy (laser) - both eyes - to bypass blockage

Question 9

What visual defects would you see in age related macular degeneration?

Answer 9

Central visual loss and distortion on an amsel test.

Question 10

How is treatment different for wet and dry age related macular degeneration.

Answer 10

Dry- caused by atrophy so treated with visual aids.

Wet- caused by vessel changes so need intravitreal anti-VEGF and visual aids.

Question 11

What changes would be seen on a fundoscopic exam of an eye with diabetic retinopathy?

Answer 11

microaneurysms
retinal haemorrhages and exudates
neovascularisation (disc/retina)

Question 12

What investigation is used to see the eye vessels more clearly?

Answer 12

Flurescein angiography