eye as a window to the CNS

Question 1

similarities between the brain and the retina

Answer 1

Presence of blood neural barrier
Highly metabolic tissue
Comes from diencephalon
Similar support cells (glia)
Neurotransmitters and receptors

Question 2

advantages of looking at the eye over brain imaging

Answer 2

Non-invasive, well organised & defined neural structure, simple and rapid, inexpensive, simpler to analyse and interpret

Question 3

electroretinography

Answer 3

assess retinal function via visual evoked response

Question 4

diabetes & eye

Answer 4

Haemorrhage
Loss of retinal pericytes (line outside of capillaries)
Basement membrane thickening
Capillary microaneurysm formation
Increased vascular permeability
Ischemia -> retinal neurovascularization
Makes leaky vessels = more haemorrhage

Question 5

oct angiography & diabetes

Answer 5

shows where capillaries are dying (before and after)

Question 6

hypertension and eye

Answer 6

Retinal Signs:
Arterial narrowing
Arteriovenous nicking & arterial tortuosity
Blood retinal barrier breakdown
Ratio between vein / art thickness alters
Increased P in artery (squishes veins)

Question 7

stroke

Answer 7

vessel diameter can be a stroke predictor

Question 8

multiple sclerosis and the eye

Answer 8

Inflammatory demyelinating disease
Less retinal ganglion cells
Cells die off b/c no myelination

Question 9

alzheimers and the eye

Answer 9

Right not look at dead people’s cut up brain
Loss of retinal ganglion cells (RNFL thinning)
Can see amyloid B plaques
Hyperspectral imaging: range of wavelengths (diff wavelengths, dif things light up)

Question 10

parkinsons disease and the eye

Answer 10

Thickening in OPL (alpha synuclein deposits?)
RNFL thinning and reduced macular thickness