Eye Flashcards
What are the causes of conjunctivitis?
- Viral (most cases e.g. adenovirus, herpes simplex)
- Bacterial (e.g. Staphylococcus, streptococcus), chlamydia (in young sexually active patients)
- Allergic - commonly seasonal
- Toxins - chemical splash, chlorine
- Radiation - direct irritation of conjunctival tissue
- Trauma - blinking of very dry eyes
What are the symptoms associated with conjunctivitis?
- Uncomfortable eye (not typically painful)
- Vision typically normal
- Redness
- Swollen eyelids
What are the signs associated with conjunctivitis?
- Redness
- Sticky discharge
- Swollen eyelids (follicles - typically in infection, papillae - typically in allergy)
What investigations if any are needed for conjunctivitis?
It is usually self-limiting, however if persistent or very severe, then conjunctival swabs and viral cultures
What treatment is there for conjunctivitis? (2)
- Often ocular lubricants (artificial tears) alone are adequate and provide symptomatic relief
- Chloramphenicol gives broad spectrum, bacteriostatic cover.
What can cause a corneal ulcer? (4)
- Infections - viral (herpes simplex ‘dendritic’ ulcer), bacterial (staphylococcus, streptococcus), rarely fungal
- Cold sores (HSV)
- Contact lens wear
- Lid margin disease (blepharitis)
What are the symptoms of a corneal ulcer? (4)
- Pain
- Photophobia
- Blurred vision
- Sensation of foreign body
What are the signs of a corneal ulcer? (4)
- Red eye
- Corneal opacity
- Corneal stain with fluorescein
- Hypopyon (sediment of white cells in the anterior chamber)
What investigations are carried out for a suspected corneal ulcer?
If the ulcer is severe or persistent then scrape samples are taken from the cornea for microscopy, culture and sensitivities (MC&S) analysis
What is the treatment for corneal ulcer?
- Herpes simplex infection - aciclovir ointment
- Bacterial keratitis - topical antibiotics
- Topical steroids added only when microbiology is known or there is clinical improvement
What is iritis?
Inflammation of the iris - a common ophthalmic presentation
What is the cause of iritis?
> 95% idiopathic
Remainder are associated with systemic conditions: HLA-B27, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoid, TB, etc. or an intrinsic eye problem e.g. corneal ulcer, retinal detachment
How does iritis present? (3)
- Pain
- Photophobia
- Blurred vision
What are the signs of iritis?
- Redness often around the cornea
- Cells in the anterior chamber
- Pupil stuck to lens in parts
- Clumps of cells stuck to inner surface of cornea
- Increased or decreased intra-ocular pressure
What are the investigations for iritis?
Screening tests for systemic conditions if iritis is recurrent, severe or bilateral
What is the treatment for iritis? (2)
- Topical steroid
2. Cycloplegic/mydriatic (dilating) drops (e.g. cyclopentolate, atropine)
What are the symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma? (6)
- Intermittent eye pain
- Headache
- Haloes (corneal oedema)
- Blurred vision
- Severe pain
- Nausea and vomiting (during acute angle-closure)
How are some people predisposed to acute angle glaucoma?
They have an anatomical predisposition - shallow anterior chamber
What are the signs of acute angle glaucoma? (6)
- Raised intraocular pressure
- Red eye
- Mild-dilated oval pupil
- Shallow anterior chamber
- Corneal oedema
- Other eye also has shallow anterior chamber
What investigation can be done for someone with suspected acute angle glaucoma?
Gonioscopy (special lens examination) shows an occluded iridocorneal angle in the affected eye and an at-risk configuration in the other eye’s angle
What is the treatment for acute angle glaucoma? (2)
- Medical; aimed at lower intraocular pressure with systemic and topical antiglaucoma drugs e.g. mannitol, pilocarpine
- Surgical; peripheral laser iridotomy done to prevent further attack of angle-closure
What is age-related macular degeneration?
A common cause of central visual loss in older (50+ years) patients. The central retina (or macula) undergoes degenerative change.
What is the dry form of macular degeneration?
Deposition of particulate debris (drusen) and pigmentary disturbance in the macula
What is the wet form of macular degeneration?
Abnormal, leaky new vessels grow in degenerative macula
What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?
Blurring of central vision or a distortion of straight-edges occurs when abnormal new vessels grow at the macula
What are the signs of macular degeneration? (3)
- Haemorrhage
- Lipid exudation
- Thickened tissue at the macula
What investigations can be carried out for macular degeneration? (2)
- Fundus angiography
2. Optical coherence tomography to delineate the neovascular complex
What is the treatment for age related macular degeneration?
Injection of growth-inhibitor drugs into the eye (intravitreal therapy) which suppress the neovascular process