Eyes & Ears Flashcards
What is the corneal light reflex (CLR/Hirschberg test)?
It tests how light is reflected from the corneas of the eyes; with ocular alignment, a light reflection should be equally centered on both pupils. If unequal, there may be misalignment (strabismus or amblyopia).
How can eye movement be evaluated?
By directing the patient to turn the eyes in 6 cardinal positions of gaze: up/right, right, down/right, down/left, left, and up/left.
What is the cover test?
A measurement of eye posture or alignment; cover one eye and look for movement.
What does the accommodation reaction assess?
It assesses how well the eyes can shift focus between nearby and distant objects.
What is the direct and consensual reaction in eye examination?
It involves observing pupil size and shape at rest, looking for anisocoria; direct response is constriction of the illuminated pupil, and consensual response is constriction of the opposite pupil.
What does lacrimal regurgitation indicate?
The flow of mucoid material from the puncta will confirm the presence of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
What do fields of peripheral vision measure?
They measure how well one can see above, below, and to the sides of something being viewed (perimetry test).
What is visual acuity?
It determines the visual clarity or sharpness of vision; distinguishing between different optotypes (stylized letters or symbols) at a standard distance.
What is the red reflex used for?
It is used to identify opacities in the visual axis as well as abnormalities in the posterior segment of the eye (corneal abnormality, cataract, retinoblastoma).
What is accommodation in terms of eye function?
The ability of the eye to change its focus from distant to near objects; the lens changes its shape to keep an object in focus as its distance from the eye varies.
What is amblyopia?
Also known as ‘lazy eye;’ it is poor vision that usually happens in just one eye but less commonly in both eyes; a breakdown in how the brain and eye work together.
What is anisocoria?
Unequal pupil size.
What is the bulbar conjunctiva?
The covering over the eyeball that protects the white of the eye.
What is a canthus?
Either corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet; includes the medial and lateral ends of the palpebral fissure.
What is diplopia?
A visual disturbance characterized by the perception of double images; can result from ocular misalignment or optical anomalies.
What is ectropion?
A condition in which the eyelid turns outward, leaving the inner eyelid surface exposed and prone to irritation; common in older adults.
What is entropion?
A condition where the eyelid turns inward so that the eyelashes and skin rub against the eye surface.
What is epiphora?
Excessive tearing; overflow of tears from one or both eyes; can be continuous or intermittent.
What is exophthalmos?
‘Proptosis;’ bulging or protruding eyeball(s); often caused by thyroid eye disease.
What is hyperopia?
A condition in which visual images come to focus behind the retina; better vision for distant than for near objects; known as ‘farsightedness.’
What is the limbus?
A border distinguished by color or structure; especially the marginal region of the cornea by which it is continuous with the sclera.
What is miosis?
Excessive constriction/shrinking of the pupil; pupil diameter less than 2 mm.
What is myopia?
‘Nearsightedness;’ a condition where close objects are seen clearly, but distant objects appear blurred.
What is mydriasis?
Unusual dilation or widening of the pupils.
What is nystagmus?
Uncontrollable movements of the eye (side to side, up and down, rotary).
What is the palpebral fissure?
The area between the open eyelids.
What is the palpebral conjunctiva?
The lining of the eyelids.
What is photophobia?
Eye discomfort in bright light.
What is presbyopia?
Gradual loss of the eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects; commonly occurs with aging.
What is ptosis?
Drooping of the upper eyelid.
What is a scotoma?
A visual field abnormality; commonly referred to as a ‘blind spot;’ mostly in one eye.
What is strabismus?
Misaligned eyes; occurs in 3-5% of the population; eyes can turn inward, outward, or be vertically misaligned.
What is cerumen?
Earwax.
What is conductive hearing loss?
A condition where sounds cannot get through the outer and middle ear; hard to hear soft sounds, and louder sounds may be muffled.
What is mixed hearing loss?
A combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL); damage occurs in both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear or nerve pathway to the brain.
What is otalgia?
Ear pain; can be referred (pain originates outside of the ear) or primary (pain originates within the ear).
What is otitis?
An infection affecting the inner or outer parts of the ear; can be acute or chronic and is often painful.
What is otorrhea?
Ear drainage from either a perforation in the eardrum or previously placed ear tube.
What is an otoscope?
A tool that shines a beam of light to visualize and examine the condition of the ear canal and eardrum.
What does ototoxic mean?
When a person develops hearing or balance problems due to a medication.
What is presbycusis?
Age-related hearing loss; a slow loss of hearing in both ears; affects 1 in 3 adults aged 65-74.
What is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)?
A type of hearing loss that occurs after inner ear damage; problems with the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain; soft sounds are hard to hear, and louder sounds may be unclear or muffled.
What is tinnitus?
‘Hearing’ noises in the ears with no outside source of sound; often described as ‘ringing in the ears’ (can be flowing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, or sizzling).
What is vertigo?
A sensation of motion or spinning that is often described as dizziness; the person feels as though they are spinning or moving, or that the world is spinning around them.
