Glaucoma Flashcards
What is glaucoma?
Impaired outflow of aqueous humour from the anterior chamber causes raised intraocular pressure leading to progressive optic neuropathy involving characteristic changes to optic nerve head.
What is glaucoma?
Impaired outflow of aqueous humour from the anterior chamber causes raised intraocular pressure leading to progressive optic neuropathy involving characteristic changes to optic nerve head.
Describe the production and flow of aqueous?
Aqueous is produced by the ciliary body and flows from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber through the pupil; drains into the episcleral veins via the trabecular meshwork and the Canal of Schlemm
What is an isolated increase in IOP termed? Mx?
Ocular HTN. Should be followed for increased risk of developing glaucoma.
What IOP is more likely to be associated with glaucoma?
Pressures >21mmHg more likely to develop glaucoma
Progression of glaucoma development?
Gradual pressure rise -> increased C:D ratio -> visual field loss. Loss of peripherals generally precedes loss of central vision.
Ix in glaucoma?
- Hx inc FHx
- VA testing
- Slit lamp to assess anterior chamber depth
- opthalmoscopy to assess disc features
- Visual field testing
- Tonometry by application or indentation to measure IOP
What is primary open angle glaucoma?
-Most common (>95% cases)
Due to obstruction of aqueous drainage within the trabecular meshwork and its drainage into the canal of Schlemm. Very insidious!!
What is the average IOP?
15mmHg +/- 3
What is the normal Cup:Disc ratio?
When should glaucoma be suspected in relation to C:D ratio?
- > 0.6
- C:D ratio b/w eyes >0.2
- Cup approaches disc margin
What are the RFx for primary open angle glaucoma?
A FIAT
- Age (increased)
- FHx (2-3x inc risk)
- IOP (>21mmHg)
- African descent
- Thin cornea
Glaucoma bilateral or unilateral?
Bilateral but usually asymmetric
What are the optic disc changes in glaucoma?
- Increased C:D ratio / C:D asymmetry >0.2 b/w eyes
- thinning of neuroretinal rim
- flame shaped disc haemorrhage
- 360” peripapillary atrophy
- nerve fibre layer defect
- large vessels become nasally displaced
Characteristic visual defects in glaucoma?
Slow peripheral loss of vision -Paracentral defects -Arcuate scotoma -Nasal step Late loss of central vision if untreated
Medical treatment options in glaucoma management?
- Increase aqueous outflow
- -> topical cholinergics
- -> topical PG analogues
- -> topical a-adrenergics
- Decrease aqueous production
- ->topical B blockers
- -> topica/oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
- -> topical a-adrenergics
Monitoring in glaucoma?
- serial optic nerve head examination
- IOP measurement
- visual field testing
Surgical management of glaucoma?
- Laser trabeculoplasty
- Cyclophotocoagulation (selective destruction of ciliary body)
- Trabeculectoy
What is primary angle closure glaucoma?
PACG 5% glaucoma cases.
- peripheral iris bows forward in susceptible eye with shallow anterior chamber; obstructs aqueous access to trabecular meshwork.
- sudden forward shift of lens-iris diaphragm causes pupillary block, inability of aqueous to flow from posterior chamber to anterior chamber –> sudden rise in IOP