Glaucoma Flashcards
Glaucoma: Definition
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Progressive death of retinal ganglion cells & their axons
- In hypertensive or normotensive eyes
- With complete loss of vision
What is shown?
The iridocorneal angle
List the diagnostic procedures of glaucoma
- Tonometry
- Tonography
- Gonioscopy
- US
- Ophthalmoscopy
- Electroretinography
- Provocative tests
Glaucoma: Aetiology
A developmental anomaly of the iridocorneal angle → Obstruction
Disturbance in the drainage of aqueous → ↑ IOP
- Hereditary
- Episcleral venous engorgement
- Anterior lens luxation
- Synechia after uveitis - Posterior & anterior
- Scar after foreign body
- Mass
What is shown?
Anterior lens luxation
What is shown?
Posterior synechia
Where the iris adheres to the lens
Glaucoma: Pathogenesis
↑ IOP destroys all intraocular structures:
- Cornea: Oedema & vascularisation
- Sclera: Stretching (buphthalmos-lagophthalmos-corneal ulcer)
- Anterior uvea: Atrophy
- Lens: Opacity; Displacement
- Vitreous: Syneresis (loss of liquid from a gel)
- Retina: ONH (optic nerve hypoplasia)
Optic nerve hypoplasia: Pathogenesis
- Impaired microcirculation
- Ischaemia → Atrophy of the optic nerve head & body
Leads to vision loss
Acute glaucoma: CSx
- Impaired habit
- Vision disturbance & pain
- Conjunctival hyperemia
- Episcleral congenstion
- Corneal oedema
- Fixated, wide pupil; Ø response to light
Acute glaucoma: Recorded pressure
> 25mmHg
Chronic glaucoma: CSx
- Vision disturbance
- Episcleral congestion
- Corneal oedema; Vascularisation; Pigmentation; Descemet’s streaks
- Fixated, wide pupil; Ø Response to light
- Iris & optic disc atrophy
- IOP may be ↑ or normal
- Buphthalmus
Glaucoma: Treatment (medical management)
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Acetasolamide)
- Hyperosmotics (Mannitol)
- Prostaglandins (Latanoprost)
- Beta-blockers (Timolol)
Glaucoma: Treatment (Surgery)
Either:
- Improve drainage of aqueous
- Decrease aqueous production
Glaucoma treatment: Improvement of aqueous drainage
Intraocular surgery
- Cyclodialysis
- Corneoscleral trepanation (make a hole)
- Drainage implants
- ICE of luxated lens
Glaucoma treatment: Decrease aqueous production
Cyclodestructive methods
- Cyclodiathermy (TSCP)
- Cyclocryotherapy
- Cyclophotocoagulation