Eyes Flashcards
The complete eye exam includes
History
Distant exam
PE
Schirmer’s tear test (STT)
Application of mydriatic (atropine) – sometimes contraindicated
Application of a topical anaesthetic (Alcaine)
Ocular exam
Intraocular pressure test (IOP)
Fluorescein stain
Other diagnostics as indicated
Blepheritis means
Inflammtion
Blephospasm means
Pain
Light sensitivity, squinting
Entropion is
a condition in which your eyelid turns inward so that your eyelashes and skin rub against the eye surface
Complication of entropion
lashes/hair rub on surface of eye
Cause trauma
May need surgical correction
Avoid breeding
Ectropion menas
Excess drooping of the lower lid
Medial canthal syndrome (aka brachycephalic ocular syndrome) includes what eye issues
Medial entropion
Chronic irritation → chronic keratitis
Non functional lacrimal ducts
+/- exophthalmos
Can cause pigmentation of the cornea and will start to cover the whole eye
There is a surgical correction
Prolapse of the 3rd eyelid treatment is
cherry eye
Surgical replacement has 70% prognosis
Surgical resection is only a last resort
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is caused by
Decreased production of the serous component of tears
Inflammation or iatrogenic causes
Schrimer tear test (STT) is and the common results are
Measures tear production
>15 mm/min is normal in dogs
Not that useful in cats
Lack of tears → increased risk of trauma to the corneal surface and infection
Conjunctivitis is and caused by
Inflammation of the palpebral and/or bulbar conjunctiva
Many underlying causes
Exophthalmos looks like
Eyes are buldgy
Exophthalmia is common in what breeds
Brachycephalic : shih Tzeus, boston terriers, pugs, chihuahuas
Complications of exophthalmia
The globe is not protected
Cornea has increased risk of drying
Easy to traumatize/scratch the eye
Less physical support → increased risk of being displaced
How to prevent eye damage
Lubricate the globes
Don’t stick head out of car window
Avoid sharp hits to back of head
Selective breeding
Proptosis is and caused by
Forward displacement of the eyeball
Pressure behind the eyeball, the back of the skull or around the skull
Higher risk in exophthalmic animals
Proptosis is an emergency
How do you fix an proptosis
Keep eyeball moist
Lube
Clean we towel
Get to the vet
Surgical replacement if globe is healthy, visual and enough muscles are intact
Enucleation if eye damage/dried out, not visual; too many muscles are severed
Keratitis is and looks like
Inflammation of the cornea
May appear red due to blood vessel growth into the cornea
Chronic keratitis can appear dark due to pigmented scar tissues
Can use dog goggles if chronic superficial pigmentary keratitis
Corneal ulcer is and causes
Ulcer = a full thickness lesion of the epithelial layer of the cornea
Causes inflammation
What are the risk factors for corneal ulcers
Exophthalmia
Dry eye
Entropion
What are the types of corneal ulcers
Simple corneal ulcer is just a superficial wound of the cornea
Indolent ulcer
- Non healing
- Common
- May only be diagnosed by rechecking the eye
complex/deep corneal ulcer
Herpesvirus dendritic ulcer
What are common complications with corneal ulcers
Inflammation of the anterior chambers (uveitis and possibly glaucoma)
Perforation of the cornea
Becomes melting ulcer
What is the treatment and prognosis with corneal ulcers
Depends on the type of ulcer that is present
Ranges from topical eye drops to conjunctival graft surgery to enucleation
Requires follow up
Make sure animal does not damage the eye any further
Prognosis depends on type of ulcer
Fluorescein stain is used for
Test for integrity of the corneal surface
Lenticular sclerosis is and caused by
“Lens” + “Hardening”
Age related
Minimal effect on vision
Kind of looks like a cataract
NOT a cataract
Cataracts are and look like
Pathological crystallization of the lens proteins that BLOCKS LIGHT from reaching the retina
Part or all of the lens may be affected
What are the causes of cataracts
genetics/breed
Prior to trauma to the lens
Diabetes mellitus in dogs
What is the prognosis with cataracts
Can see around small cataracts
Often a chronic progressive condition
complete/mature cataracts block vision
Very advanced cataracts can cause inflammation (lens induced uveitis) → glaucoma
Uveitis is
Inflammation within the eye, including the uvea
Same day emergency
How do you know its uveitis
Golden retriever with sudden “red eye”
White or red inside the eye
Pupil is abnormal (e.g. very constricted) and eye is painful
Corneal ulcer that is not resolving – likely to also have uveitis
What does intraocular pressure test do
Testing the fluid pressure inside the eye
Measure of inflammation (uveitis) and glaucoma
Glaucoma is
Increased intraocular pressure
What causes glaucoma
diopathic, congenital
Any inflammation (trauma, disease)…
Anything that blocks aqueous humor fluid exiting the anterior chamber
Inflammatory cells, RBCs, lens that has dislocated, neoplasia
What does glaucoma cause
Increases pressure within the eye
Increased pressure starts crushing internal eye structures
Severe pain and potential blindness
Crushes optic nerve
Damages retina
How do you recognize acute glaucoma
MEDICAL EMERGENCY – SEE NOW!
Eye is large; appears to stick out
Eye is big and red
Eye is hazy/”blue”
Acutely blind
Pupil is dilated, very painful red eye
Recently seen for an eye problem – ex. Uveitis
What are the causes of blindness or vision loss
Light can not reach the retina
- Cataracts, pigmentary keratitis
Retinal pathology
- Congenital disorders, degenerative conditions, retinal detachment
Optic nerve pathology
- Infection ,trauma, inflammation, glaucoma, compression, neoplasia
Central blindness
What causes central blidness
Cortical blindness, cerebral blindness
Damage to the visual cortex
Vision loss can indicate brian trauma
What are common ocualr neoplasias
Eyelids, conjunctiva, globe and retrobulbar
Squamous cell carcinoma
Tarsal gland tumors
Papillomas
Lymphoma
Melanoma
Nasal adenocarcinoma
Others
What are some common rules when giving eye medications
Go over each medication with the owner
Write it down for the owner
Drops first; ointments last
Avoid touching the eye
5 minutes between medication after eye drops are administered, 20 minutes after ointments
At recheck examinations go over how each medication was administered (frequency and order)
Never use iodine or alcohol around the eye
What eye things are emergencies
Sticking out
BIG
Bleeding
Sudden blindness
Red eye
Clouding of the cornea
