Lesson 24 - Ocular Pathology and Systemic Conditions That Affect the Eyes

Question 1

Neovascularization

Answer 1

“Neo” means new. This is when there is new vessel growth into the cornea where there should not be any blood vessels. This is usually caused by inflammation, injury, infection or disease. The blood vessels that grow in these areas can cause loss of vision, especially if the vessels leak as in diabetes.

Question 2

Bullous keratopathy

Answer 2

When one of the inner layers of the cornea that helps to regulate the fluid to the cornea is damaged from injury, after eye surgery, or from glaucoma, the cornea swells with little fluid-filled blisters that are extremely painful, and the cornea becomes cloudy. Vision becomes blurry, and the eye becomes light-sensitive and painful.

Question 3

Corneal dystrophies

Answer 3

Genetic mutations that cause corneal conditions affecting both eyes, without any injury, inflammation, or disease process. It is usually a slow accumulation of abnormal whitish material in the cornea, causing corneal clouding and affecting vision.

Question 4

Corneal edema

Answer 4

The swelling of the cornea due to the buildup of fluid. It can be caused by contact lens over wear, infection, injury, or disease. It can cause cornea clouding and/or blurred vision.

Question 5

Corneal infiltrates

Answer 5

Infiltrates are very small, whitish lesions on the cornea that are made of white blood cells that appear as a response when there is damage to the epithelium. These do not usually affect vision. If they are in the peripheral cornea, they are usually not infectious and not painful. If they are in the central cornea, they are usually infectious, painful, and affect vision.

Question 6

Cornea ulcer

Answer 6

An inflammatory defect in the cornea, causing a depression, and may or may not be caused by infection, contact lens over wear, bacteria, injury, or surgery. It causes pain, light sensitivity, and/or loss of vision.

Question 7

Corneal scar

Answer 7

The result of a corneal injury, scratch, chemical, or infection. It usually looks like a white, opaque area. Scarring obstructs vision.

Question 8

Keratoplasty

Answer 8

Cornea transplant

Question 9

Radial keratotomy (RK)

Answer 9

Radial keratotomy is when radial cuts are made by hand on the corneal surface to reshape the cornea in the effort to change the prescription. Radial keratotomy is now considered outdated and replaced with newer methodologies to correct refraction of vision.

Question 10

Astigmatic keratotomy (AK)

Answer 10

Paired cuts opposite each other in the peripheral cornea are made to correct only corneal astigmatism. It is sometimes used along with other laser procedures.

Question 11

LASIK: laser in-situ keratomileusis

Answer 11

Laser-driven refractive surgery that removes some of the corneal tissue to reshape the cornea

Question 12

ALK: automated lamellar keratoplasty

Answer 12

Some of the corneal tissue is removed to reshape the cornea. It is done without a laser. Came before LASIK

Question 13

LTK: laser thermokeratoplasty

Answer 13

This is used to correct astigmatism and hyperopia. A laser is used to shrink and change the shape of the cornea.

Question 14

CK: conductive keratoplasty

Answer 14

Radiofrequency waves instead of a laser is used to reshape the cornea. It is mostly used for farsightedness and presbyopia.

Question 15

Intracorneal ring (Intacs)

Answer 15

An eye surgery where two crescent-shaped plastic pieces are inserted into the cornea to correct nearsightedness and keratoconus.

Question 16

Microbial keratitis

Answer 16

A bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoan (acanthamoema) corneal infection often found in contact lens wearers. Symptoms include painful, red eyes; blurred vision; photophobia; tearing; and mucus discharge.

Question 17

Herpes simplex

Answer 17

Same virus that causes cold sores; can affect the eye and cause pain and scarring

Question 18

Herpes zoster

Answer 18

Same virus that causes chicken pox and, in the eye, can cause pain and scarring

Question 19

Pterygium

Answer 19

A fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva onto the cornea caused by too much UV exposure, dry eyes, and constant irritation from wind and dust over time. It can become painful and obstruct vision.

Question 20

Pinguecula

Answer 20

This is a raised yellowish growth of the conjunctiva seen on the white of the eye. It has the same cause as a pterygium, but it has not yet grown over the cornea. It does not affect vision but can cause irritation and discomfort. It is caused by too much UV exposure, dry eyes, and windy or sandy conditions.

Question 21

Conjunctivitis

Answer 21

This group of eye conditions is commonly referred to as “pink eye.” It may be caused by bacteria, virus, or allergies.

Question 22

Coloboma

Answer 22

This can be a genetic defect where the iris doesn’t develop completely, or it can be caused by an injury or surgery. It causes problems with vision, glare, and photophobia.

Question 23

Aniridia

Answer 23

This is a genetic defect where the iris is completely or partially absent. It causes decreased vision and photophobia.

Question 24

Albinism

Answer 24

This is a genetic condition where there is very little or no color in the retina and/or the iris, and the macula is not well developed. These people usually are very light sensitive and don’t see well due to nystagmus.

Question 25

Nystagmus

Answer 25

This is when the eyes have constant involuntary rapid jerky movements, side to side, up and down, or rotational. The cause can be genetic, inner ear issues, neurological issues like stroke or head injury, MS, certain medications, alcohol, or drug overuse. Vision problems, photophobia, dizziness, and problems seeing in the dark may result.

Question 26

Exopththalmos

Answer 26

Exophthalmos occurs when one or both eyeballs protrude or bulge forward. This can be caused by thyroid disease. Many people experience dry eye, and some see double.

Question 27

Media opacities

Answer 27

This is when there is opaqueness or clouding of the cornea, lens, or vitreous inside the eye that may cause vision problems. It can be from birth or caused by inflammation of the eye or eye injuries.

Question 28

Ectropion

Answer 28

In this eyelid condition, the lower lid becomes very loose and turns outward, exposing the lower eyeball. It can cause dry eye and discomfort, and it is often seen in elderly.

Question 29

Entropion

Answer 29

In this eyelid condition, the lower eyelid turns inward. It can be genetic or caused by eyelid spasm. Eyelashes scratch the cornea, causing irritation and discomfort.

Question 30

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

Answer 30

A laser is used to reshape the cornea without creating a flap first.

Question 31

Alcohol

Answer 31

Alcohol can dehydrate the eyes and cause red eyes, double vision, night vision problems, eyelid twitching, and nystagmus.

Question 32

General medications

Answer 32

Side effects of certain medications can make vision blurred and can cause eye pain, double vision, dry eye, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Question 33

Recreational drugs

Answer 33

Drug use can change pupil size and cause blurred vision, red eyes, nystagmus, esotropia, double vision, glaucoma, vision loss in one eye, and ptosis.

Question 34

Smoking

Answer 34

Smoking causes cataracts, macular degeneration, and dry and red eyes.

Question 35

Thyroid imbalance

Answer 35

A thyroid imbalance can cause dry eyes; watery, red eyes; exophthalmos; and double vision.

Question 36

Sjogren’s Syndrome

Answer 36

Pronounced “Sho’-gren’s,” Sjogren’s Syndrome causes severe dry eyes (burning, itchy, gritty feeling), along with dry mouth.

Question 37

Diabetes

Answer 37

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause blurred vision, loss of vision from macular edema and leaking retinal blood vessels, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Question 38

Arthritis

Answer 38

Symptoms of arthritis can include dry eyes; red, burning eyes; and light sensitivity.

Question 39

HIV/AIDS

Answer 39

Symptoms of the eye include small blood vessels in the retina leak or become blocked.

Question 40

Bullous keratopathy recommended eyewear

Answer 40

Extended-wear soft contact lenses that have been FDA approved as bandage contact lenses often help relieve the pain from the corneal blisters.

Question 41

Corneal scarring recommended eyewear

Answer 41

Cosmetic contact lenses often help to mask corneal scars.

Question 42

Refractive surgeries recommended eyewear

Answer 42

Sometimes the surgical outcomes may not turn out well and the cornea is still highly irregular. Scleral lenses work well in these cases to give the cornea a new spherical surface and improve vision.

Question 43

Coloboma and aniridia recommended eyewear

Answer 43

Cosmetic contact lenses and scleral lenses work well in these cases.

Question 44

Albinism recommended eyewear

Answer 44

Since people with albinism suffer from severe light sensitivity, they would benefit from sunglasses.

Question 45

Pinguecula and pterygium recommended eyewear

Answer 45

These conditions can be caused by a lot of UV exposure, so recommend UV sunglasses protection to all.

Question 46

Pseudophakia

Answer 46

Pseudophakia is a Latin word for false lens. We use this term after placing an artificial lens into the eye.

Question 47

Aphakia

Answer 47

Aphakia is a condition in which you’re missing the lens of one or both of your eyes. You can be born that way or lose the lens due to an injury. Or your doctor might remove it during an operation for cataracts. When you have aphakia, it’s hard to see things clearly with the affected eye.

Question 48

Aniseikonia

Answer 48

Aniseikonia is the difference in image size perceived between the eyes from unequal magnification due to either anisometropia or retinal pathology. This can manifest with symptoms of headache, dizziness, disorientation, and excessive eye strain.