Eyes and systemic disease Flashcards
what groups of diseases can cause eye problems
diabetes
hypertension
connective tissue diseases - SLE, RA, Marfans
inflammatory diseases - GCA, thyroid
What is the most important CVS disease of the eye
diabetic retinopathy
What eye diseases can DM cause
retinopathy
maculopathy
pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy
chronic hyperglycaemia causes glycosylation of protein/BM resulting in loss of pericytes (cells that surround endothelium) which results in microaneurysms which can leak and cause ischaemia
What are the categories of diabetic retinopathy
non-proliferative - mild - moderate - severe Proliferative
what does proliferative retinopathy essentially mean
neovascularisation
signs of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
microaneurysms dot + blot haemorrhages hard exudate cotton wool patches abnormalities of venous calibre intra-retinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA)
what are hard exudates
products of lipid breakdown
what are cotton wool patches
white fluffy areas from ischaemia and oedema of axon layer of retina
what is IRMA
intra retinal microvascular abnormalities are a precursor to neovascularisation
what causes neovascularisation
ischaemia drives VEGF to cause neovascularisation
Where can neovascularisation occur
disc NVD
periphery NVE
iris - rubeosis iridis
causes of vision loss in diabetic patients
retinal oedema affecting fovea
vitreous haemorrhage
retinal detachment
How can you classify maculopathy
none
observable
referrable
clinically significant
true or false, the retina is transparent
true, it appears pink becuase of the choroid layer beneath it
in maculopathy, central/peripheral vision is damaged?
central