IPA Exam 2 Flashcards
What are refractive errors?
The most common cause of blurred vision, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing directly on the retina.
Define myopia.
Nearsightedness; difficulty seeing distant objects clearly because light focuses in front of the retina.
Myopia is characterized by clear near vision and blurry distant vision.
What does HYPER-opia stand for?
Farsightedness; difficulty seeing near objects clearly because light focuses behind the retina.
Hyperopia means ‘high vision’ indicating that far vision is better.
What is astigmatism?
Blurred vision at all distances due to light not being uniformly focused, often caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.
Astigmatism can cause distortion in vision.
What is presbyopia?
Age-related decline in near vision due to decreased lens flexibility, typically occurring after age 40.
Presbyopia affects the ability to focus on close objects.
What is amaurosis fugax?
Transient vision loss in one or both eyes due to inadequate blood flow to the retina, usually lasting up to 3 minutes.
It is often described as a momentary blackout.
Describe open-angle glaucoma.
Characterized by gradual peripheral vision loss and is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the United States.
Examination reveals optic disc pallor and an enlarged optic cup.
What are the symptoms of narrow-angle glaucoma?
Pain, seeing halos, and poor vision due to intermittent obstruction of aqueous humor drainage.
Untreated narrow-angle glaucoma can lead to total blindness.
Define age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
A leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
AMD affects the central part of the retina, leading to a loss of central vision.
What are retinal tears and detachments?
Conditions that can lead to vision reduction and a shadow or curtain in the peripheral vision.
These conditions require urgent medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.
What is amblyopia?
Loss of visual acuity in childhood due to strabismus, where the eyes are misaligned.
Amblyopia is reversible until around age 7.
What are cataracts?
Opacification of the lens, most commonly due to aging, leading to slow, gradual vision loss.
Cataracts can significantly affect vision clarity.
What is scotoma?
A blind spot that can be physiologic or pathologic, with pathologic scotomata detectable on visual field testing.
Scotomas may result from primary ocular disease or CNS lesions.
Explain tunnel vision.
Loss of peripheral vision while retaining central vision.
Tunnel vision can occur in advanced glaucoma.
What is diplopia?
Seeing double; can be caused by conditions affecting the extraocular muscles or nerves.
Strabismus can lead to diplopia, confusion, and subsequently amblyopia.
What are floaters and flashes?
Visual disturbances that can indicate retinal tears, potentially progressing to detachments if untreated.
Patients often describe these as small dots or streaks in their vision.
Define corneal abrasion.
Pain, photophobia, and blurred vision due to a scratch on the cornea, usually caused by trauma.
Fluorescein staining reveals defects in the corneal epithelium.
What is acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Sudden onset of severe eye pain, headache, nausea, and blurred vision, often with a sluggish, mid-dilated pupil.
This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
What is iritis or iridocyclitis?
Inflammation of the iris, causing severe pain, photophobia, tearing, decreased vision, and circumcorneal congestion.
Ciliary flush is characterized by injection of deep episcleral vessels.
What is a stye?
Localized abscess in an eyelash follicle caused by a staphylococcal infection, presenting as a painful, red bump.
Also known as an acute external hordeolum.
What is conjunctivitis?
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the inner eyelid and covering the white part of the eye.
It is the most common eye disease in the Western Hemisphere.
What are the common symptoms of nasal disease?
Obstruction, nasal discharge, epistaxis (nosebleeds) and loss of smell (anosmia).
These symptoms can be caused by various conditions including infections and allergies.
What is rhinitis?
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which can be triggered by allergens or other factors.
Symptoms may include nasal obstruction and discharge.
What are the types of nasal discharge?
- Thin and watery: Viral infection or allergies
- Thick and purulent: Bacterial infection
- Bloody: Neoplasm, trauma, or infection
- Foul-smelling: Foreign bodies or chronic sinusitis
- Clear watery: Suggests cerebrospinal fluid leakage
The characteristics of nasal discharge can help in diagnosing the underlying condition.
What causes conductive hearing loss?
- Cerumen (earwax)
- Foreign bodies in the ear
- Infection
- Congenital abnormalities
- Middle ear effusions
- Otosclerosis
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound transmission is blocked from the outer ear to the inner ear.
What is the Weber test?
A hearing test using a vibrating tuning fork to assess conductive hearing loss by placing it in the middle of the forehead.
Lateralization indicates which ear may have a conductive hearing loss.
What are signs of acute otitis media?
- Diffusely red tympanic membrane
- Loss of light reflex
- Less prominent malleus
- Bulging tympanic membrane due to effusion
Pneumatic otoscopy is used to assess the mobility of the tympanic membrane.
What is blepharoptosis?
Drooping of the eyelid, which can be symmetrical or affect only one eyelid.
It can be caused by various conditions including genetic disorders.
What is lagophthalmos?
Inability to close the eyelids completely, caused by conditions such as thyroid disease or ocular surgery.
This can lead to exposure keratitis.
What is entropion?
A turning inward of the lid margin causing eyelashes to rub against the cornea.
This condition can lead to irritation and corneal damage.
What is ectropion?
A turning outward of the eyelid margin, which can also be caused by age-related changes.
Ectropion may result in dryness and irritation of the eye.
What are raccoon eyes?
Orbital pigmentation indicating a basilar skull fracture.
This sign suggests serious intracranial injury.
What is entropion?
A turning inward of the lid margin that causes the eyelashes to rub against the cornea and globe.
What can cause entropion?
Age-related changes and dry eye syndrome.
What is ectropion?
A turning outward of the eyelid margin.
What can cause ectropion?
Age-related changes and dry eye syndrome.
What are raccoon eyes?
Orbital pigmentation that is a sign of a basilar skull fracture.
What is xanthelasma?
Sharply demarcated yellowish papules and plaques commonly found near the inner corner of the eyelid.
What causes xanthelasma?
Lipid deposits in the periorbital skin and is associated with hyperlipidemia in about half of cases.
What is a chalazion?
A granulomatous reaction to thickened secretions of the meibomian glands in the eyelid caused by a blocked duct.
What is a stye?
A painful, red, localized abscess in an eyelash follicle caused by a staphylococcal infection.
What is blepharitis?
Chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins.
What are common symptoms of blepharitis?
Itching, tearing, and redness.
What types of carcinoma can affect the eyelid?
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) * Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) * Malignant melanoma.
What are sublingual varices?
Varicose veins that appear under the tongue.
What is geographic tongue?
Irregular, map-like patterns on the tongue caused by areas where the papillae are missing.
What is black hairy tongue?
A harmless condition causing the tongue to look black and hairy due to overgrowth of bacteria and yeast.
What is scrotal tongue?
A benign condition that causes deep grooves or fissures on the surface of the tongue.
What is oral candidiasis?
A fungal infection of the mouth that can cause white patches on the tongue.
What is oral hairy leukoplakia?
A white, hairy-looking lesion on the sides of the tongue caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
What is angular cheilitis?
Dry, cracked corners of the mouth.
What is the most significant risk factor for oral cancer?
Tobacco use.
What are the primary causes of oral cancer?
- Tobacco use * Alcohol consumption.
What is the role of HPV in oral cancer?
Human Papillomavirus, especially HPV-16, is an important modern risk factor.
What is conjunctivitis?
The most common eye disease in the Western Hemisphere, caused by various factors.
What is Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis (AHC)?
A highly contagious viral eye infection characterized by sudden onset of painful, swollen eyes with subconjunctival hemorrhages.
What is giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)?
An inflammatory condition with large papillae under the upper eyelid, usually as an allergic reaction.
VERY COMMON IN CONTACT LENS USERS
What is subconjunctival hemorrhage?
A condition occurring when a blood vessel breaks just beneath the conjunctiva.
What is episcleritis?
Inflammation of the episclera, usually benign and self-limiting.
What is scleritis?
A more serious condition involving inflammation of the sclera itself, often associated with autoimmune disorders.
What is a corneal abrasion?
A scratch on the cornea that is often painful.
What is a corneal ulceration?
An open sore on the cornea that can be very painful and may cause vision loss.
What is herpes simplex virus-related keratitis?
A viral infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus.
What is acute iritis?
Inflammation of the iris, which can cause pain and light sensitivity.
What is uveitis?
Inflammation of the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.
What is hyphema?
Bleeding into the anterior chamber of the eye.
What is globe rupture?
A serious injury where the sclera is torn.