Lesson 23 - Contact Lens-Related Conditions and Pathology Flashcards
Dry eye
A subjective symptom of frequent scratchy, burning, and/or irritated sensation of the eyes diagnosed at the slit lamp with fluorescein dye.
Causes: Dry eye is more frequently found in women due to hormonal changes. It can also be caused by antihistamines, antipsychotic medications, diuretics, medications for high blood pressure, dehydration, frequent computer viewing, Vitamin A deficiency, windy conditions, air conditioning, or autoimmune disease.
Lens awareness
A subjective symptom of a frequently felt contact lens edge with the blink; should be differentiated from any other eye infection or condition.
Causes: Among many causes, these may include a chipped or torn lens, lens too tight or too loose, a dirty lens, an eyelash, or a cornea issue.
Fluctuating or blurry vision
A subjective complaint of poor vision that may not not always be occurring or noticed (fluctuating).
Causes: May or may not be contact lens-related
Pain
A subjective patient symptom that may or may not be contact lens related; cause must be diagnosed by the doctor.
Causes: Depends on location and where the pain source is
Photophobia
A subjective symptom when the patient reports light sensitivity with or without contact lenses. The cause must be diagnosed by the doctor.
Causes: Usually corneal swelling resulting from the lens being worn too long or the lens being too tight
Steep or flat lens
Objective finding to describe how the lens fits over the cornea. Use of a slit lamp is required for diagnosis.
Everted lens
A procedure that involves turning an eyelid inside out to visualize the tarsal plate or palpebral conjunctiva
Cornea/conjunctival staining
Objective term to describe the cornea or conjunctiva when fluorescein dye (stain) is used to diagnose or look for abnormalities
Injection
Objective term used to describe when excess blood vessels on the conjunctiva or sclera appear engorged with blood
Corneal edema
Objective term used to describe when the cornea is swollen
Discharge
Objective term used to describe when there is mucus or watery fluid produced by the eye
Vision loss
Objective term used to describe any condition that causes a decrease in vision or worsening of vision
Blepharitis
An eyelid bacterial infection
Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)
An inflammatory condition of the upper and lower palpebral lid tissue.
Side note: you may want to pay special attention to this condition. I remember seeing many questions about this when I took the NCLE/CLRE. However, your experience may vary.
Refer to the following link:
https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/optical/guide-to-contact-lenses/what-are-scleral-lenses/contact-lenses-for-giant-papillary-conjunctivitis-gpc/
Ptosis
Droopy eyelid
Superior epithelial arcuate lesion (SEAL)
A corneal epithelial lesion in the superior part of the cornea
Contact lens-associated red eye (CLARE)
Contact lens-related red eye that goes away after the contact lens is removed
Vascularized limbal keratitis (VLK)
Inflammation of the cornea, limbus, and conjunctiva caused by contact lens wear
Superior limbic keratitis (SLK)
Contact lens-related recurrent inflammation of the superior corneal limbal area
Contact lens peripheral ulcer (CLPU)
A bacterial infectious corneal ulcer in the peripheral cornea usually associated with sleeping in or over wear of soft contact lenses.
Dimple veiling
Numerous focal indentations on the cornea caused by trapped air bubbles under a contact lens
Smile staining
A smile-shaped corneal epithelial lesion seen with fluorescein caused by soft contact lens dehydration
Mucin balls
Small globules made of mucus trapped under a soft contact lens
Microbial keratitis
Bacterial corneal infection
Acanthamoeba keratitis
Serious painful infection of the cornea caused by an organism called Acanthamoeba
Dendritic ulcer
A short branch-patterned ulcer on the cornea caused by a herpes infection
Corneal infiltrates
Cornea immune response to inflammation caused by soft contact lens wear; white-gray lesions with feathery edges on the cornea
Corneal dellen
Small depression at the corneal margin that may be spontaneous in the elderly or caused by a localized area of dehydration after cornea is compromised
Corneal staining
Corneal defects that appear with fluorescein dye in a slit lamp
Corneal molding/warpage
Another name for orthokeratology, the use of gas permeable lenses worn during sleep to reshape the cornea to reduce nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
Corneal warpage
Irregular corneal astigmatism and poor vision with glasses caused by soft contact lens wear
Many of the eye problems and infections you will learn about from contact lens wear will result from what? However, there are also other sources of contact lens-related eye problems. List them
Many of the eye problems and infections you will learn about from contact lens wear will result from bacteria. However, there are also other sources of contact lens-related eye problems from viruses, fungi, histamines, reduced immunities, and improper use of contact lenses.
Remember that bacteria live on our eyelids, lid margins, and eyelashes. Frequently, bacteria can also survive on eye makeup products, which is why eye infections are common who? Our tear film serves an important role in what? Good hygiene and proper cleansing of the eye and eyelid margins daily are important. why?
Remember that bacteria live on our eyelids, lid margins, and eyelashes. Frequently, bacteria can also survive on eye makeup products, which is why eye infections are common among those who sleep with or don’t remove their eye makeup before bed. Our tear film serves an important role in washing away much of the bacteria that enters the eye from the lids and lashes. Good hygiene and proper cleansing of the eye and eyelid margins daily are important in reducing risk for eye infections.
Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk for eye infections since the lenses can also harbor bacteria, especially if what? ___ lenses are less likely to cause eye infections than soft lenses. ____ lenses have less risk of causing eye infections.
Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk for eye infections since the lenses can also harbor bacteria, especially if the lenses are not cleaned and disinfected well prior to inserting them. Gas permeable lenses are less likely to cause eye infections than soft lenses. Single-use soft contact lenses have less risk of causing eye infections.
Important factors in avoiding eye infections.
Washing the hands prior to handling contact lenses or touching the eyes is also an important factor in avoiding eye infections. Of course, sharing contact lenses is especially dangerous, and using tap water or non-approved lens cleaners and solutions is a high risk for eye infections and problems.
Subjective clinical findings
The word subjective means the findings are described based on the person’s personal opinion, experience, or their own ideas, without visible evidence assessed by the practitioner. Subjective clinical assessments are important to obtain during the contact lens fitting and when people come in with problems, because it is helpful to the doctor to understand where and how much the problem is bothering the patient.
Objective clinical findings
Objective findings are findings that the doctor or optician fitting contact lenses may discover while examining the eye or checking a contact lens fit.
