Ophthalmology Flashcards
What are the causes of a painful acute red eye?
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Anterior uveitis
Scleritis
Corneal abrasion/ulceration
Keratitis
Foreign body
Traumatic/chemical injury
What are the causes of a painless acute red eye?
Conjunctivitis
Episcleritis
Subconjunctival haemorrhage
What is glaucoma?
Damage to the optic nerve due to raised intraocular pressure due to a blockage as aqueous humour tries to escape the eye
What are the anterior and posterior borders of the anterior chamber of the eye?
Cornea anteriorly
Iris posteriorly
What are the anterior and posterior borders of the posterior chamber of the eye?
Iris anteriorly
Lens posteriorly
What is the normal physiological route of aqueous humour?
Produced by ciliary body
Supplies the cornea with nutrients
Flows through the posterior chamber and iris into the anterior chamber
Drains through the trabecular meshwork into the canal of Schlemm
Enters the general circulation
What is normal intraocular pressure?
10-21 mmHg
How does open-angle glaucoma happen?
Gradual increase in resistance to flow through the trabecular meshwork
Pressure slowly builds in the eye
What can be seen on fundoscopy in open-angle glaucoma?
Increased cupping of the optic disc (cup-disc ratio of greater than 0.5)
What are risk factors for open-angle glaucoma?
Increasing age
Family history
Black ethnic origin
Myopia (nearsightedness)
How does open-angle glaucoma present?
May be asymptomatic for a long time before diagnosis on routine eye test
Affects peripheral vision first, causing tunnelling
Fluctuating pain
Headaches
Blurred vision
Halos around lights, particularly at night
What is the first-line medical management for open-angle glaucoma?
Prostaglandin analogue eye drops (e.g., latanoprost) –> Increase uveoscleral outflow
What other medications can be used to treat open-angle glaucoma?
Beta-blockers (e.g., timolol) –> reduce production of aqueous humour
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., dorzolamide) –> reduce production of aqueous humour
Sympathomimetics (e.g., brimonidine) –> reduce production of humour and increase uveoscleral outflow
What is the NICE guidelines’ first line management for all open-angle glaucoma patients requiring treatment?
360° selective laser trabeculoplasty
What is the intraocular pressure treatment threshold in open angle glaucoma?
24mmHg
What is the pathophysiology of acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Increased pressure causes iris to bulge forward, closing the trabecular meshwork
This causes pressure to continue to build, further worsening the angle closure
What are the risk factors for acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Increasing age
Family history
Female
Chinese and east Asian ethnic origin
Shallow anterior chamber
Medication e.g., noradrenaline, anticholinergics, tricyclic antidepressants
How does acute angle-closure glaucoma present to the patient?
Severely painful red eye
Blurred vision
Halos around light
Associated headaches, nausea and vomiting
What are the signs of acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Red eye
Hazy cornea
Decreased visual acuity
Mid-dilated, fixed size pupil
Hard eyeball on palpation
What is the initial management of acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Immediate blue light admission
Lie patient on their back
Pilocarpine eye drops (2% for blue, 4% for brown)
Acetazolamide 500mg
Analgesia and antiemetic if required
How is acute angle-closure glaucoma managed in secondary care?
Pilocarpine eye drops
Acetazolamide
Hyperosmotic agents (e.g., IV mannitol) –> increase the osmotic gradient between blood and eye, aiming to draw fluid out of the eye
Timolol –> reduce humour production
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., dorzolamide) –> reduce production of aqueous humour
Sympathomimetics (e.g., brimonidine) –> reduce production of humour and increase uveoscleral outflow
What is the definitive management of acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Laser iridotomy –> hole is made in the iris to allow aqueous humour to move from the posterior to anterior chamber, relieving the pressure
What is blepharitis?
Inflammation of the eyelid margins
What is the presentation of blepharitis?
Gritty, dry sensation of the eyes
What is the management of blepharitis?
Warm compression and gentle cleaning
What is a stye?
Infection of the glands in the eyelids
What is the management of a stye?
Hot compression and analgesia
Topical antibiotics (e.g., chloramphenicol if symptoms present or conjunctivitis
What is a chalazion?
Blockage of the meibomian gland
What is an entropion?
When the eyelid turns inwards and lashes are against the eye
What is an ectropion?
When the eyelid turns outwards, exposing the inner aspect
What is trichiasis?
Inwards growth of eyelashes
What is periorbital cellulitis?
Eyelid infection anterior to orbital septum
How does periorbital cellulitis present?
Swollen, red, hot skin around eyelid and eye
What is the management of periorbital cellulitis?
Systemic antibiotics
Monitor progression to orbital cellulitis (medical emergency)
What is orbital cellulitis?
Eyelid infection posterior to orbital septum
Medical emergency