Ophthalmology Flashcards
Features of acute angle closure glaucoma
Severe pain, may have headache
Decreased visual acuity
Symptoms worse with pupil dilation (watching tv in a dark room)
Firm, red eye
Haloes around lights
Semi dilated non reacting pupil
Dull or hazy cornea
Systemic upset- nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain
Investigations for acute closure glaucoma
Refer to ophthalmology
Check visual fields, acuity, eye movements, cranial nerves
Slit lamp examination (without dilation)
Check intraocular pressure with Goldman Tonometry
Management of acute closure glaucoma
Refer to ophthalmology
Combination of eye drops- pilocarpine, beta blocker (timolol), alpha agonist (apraclonidine)
Intravenous acetazolamide
Surgery- laser peripheral iridotomy (do in other eye prophylacticaly)
NB- if in community, lie patient down, give pilocarpine eye drops, antiemetic/analgesic, and oral acetazolamide
Risks for ARMD
Advancing age
Smoking
FH
HTN, dyslipidaemia, DM
Dry macular degeneration
90% cases
Characterised by drusen
Wet macular degeneration
10%
Choroidal neovascularisation
Worst prognosis
Features of ARMD
Subacute onset
Reduced visual acuity (near field objects)
Central vision loss
Worse vision at night
Perception of flicking lights
Straight lines become wavy
On exam;
Distorted line perception on Amsler grid
Drusen (dry)
Fluid leak/haemorrhage (wet)
Macula depogmentation (both)
Investigations for ARMD
Visual acuity, fields, eye movements, cranial nerves
Fundoscopy
Slit lamp microscopy
Fluorescin angiography
OCT- retinal layers
Treatment of ARMD
Refer to ophthalmology, advice on driving
Dry- avoid smoking, control BP, healthy lifestyle, visual aids, social support groups, high dose vitamins and minerals eg. vitamin C, zinc, beta carotene can reduce rate of visual loss
Wet- same stuff, but Anti VEGF injections, then laser therapy 2nd (laser neovascularisation)
Allergic conjunctivitis
May be seen alone or in context of hay fever
Bilateral symptoms
Conjunctival erythema and swelling (chemo sis)
Itch
History of atopy
Management- Topical or systemic antihistamines, then mast cell stabilisers eg. Sodium cromoglicate
Features of anterior uveitis
Acute onset
Ocular pain (may increase with use)
Pupil may be small and fixed, or abnormally shaped
Intense photophobia
Blurred vision
Red eye
Lacrimation
Ciliary flush (red ring)
Hypopyon (visible fluid level)
Visual acuity normal- gradually gets worse
Conditions associated with anterior uveitis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Reactive arthritis
IBD (UC, Crohns)
Beckets disease
Sarcoidosis
Management of anterior uveitis
Urgent referral to ophthalmology
Pupil dilation
Steroid eye drops
Argyll Robertson pupil
Small, irregular pupils
No response to light, but there is accommodation
Causes- DM, syphyllis
Blepharitis
Inflammation of eyelid margin
Due to memobian gland dysfunction, seborrhoeic dermatitis/staph infection
Features of blepharitis
Bilateral
Grittiness
Sticky eyes in morning
Red eyelid margins
Styes and chalazions are more common
May get secondary conjunctivitis
Management of blepharitis
Hot compress twice a day
Lid hygiene- clear debris away with cotton wool buds dipped in boiling water
Artificial tears
Causes of blurred vision
Refractive error (most common)
Cataracts
Retinal detachment
ARMD
Acute angle closure glaucoma
Optic neuritis
Amaurosis fugax
Investigations for blurred vision
Visual acuity (logMAR chart- pinhole occluders (if it improves- due to refractive error), fields, cranial nerves, eye movements
Fundoscopy
Causes of cataracts
Advancing age
Smoking
Increased alcohol
Trauma
DM
long term corticosteroids
Radiation exposure
Hypocalcaemia
Steroids and intraocular pressure
Steroids (whether topical or systemic), can increase intraocular pressure and cause glaucoma
Tell patients who recently start steroids to have an eye test in 3 weeks
Features of cataracts
Reduced vision
Faded colour vision (things becoming more brown or yellow), colours not as sharp
Glare- lights appear brighter than usual
Starbursts around lights
Defect in the red reflex
Investigations for cataracts
Visual fields, acuity, eye movements, cranial nerves
Ophthalmoscopy (normal)
Slit lamp examination- visible cataract
Management of cataracts
Non surgical- stronger glasses, use brighter lights
Surgery- remove cloudy lens and implant an artificial one (referral to surgery depends upon whether visual impairment is present, the impact on quality of life, and patient choice)