Ophthalmology Flashcards
What are the vision screening principles? (I-ARM)
- Inspection - Evaluation for pupil and eyelid symmetry, face or head tilt, conjunctival redness, and squinting
- Acuity assessment
- Neonates and infants: evaluation of eye fixation and pupillary responses
- Children: use of eye charts or cards
- Red reflex assessment - single best screening examination for infants and children
- Motility assessment of each eye and assessment of alignment (Hirschberg test)
Why is visual accuity poor at birth?
When does it improve?
Immaturity of the visual centers in the brain responsible for vision processing
Rapidly improves during the first 3-4 months of life
What is the meaning of the following findings on red reflex examination?
- Dark, dull, or white reflex:
- Dark, dull reflex:
- Yellow or white reflex:
- Unequal red reflex:
- Brighter red reflex in a deviated eye:
- Dull reflex:
- Dark, dull, or white reflex: Cataract
- Dark, dull reflex: Vitreous hemorrhage
- Yellow or white reflex: Retinoblastoma
- Unequal red reflex: Anisometropia
- Brighter red reflex in a deviated eye: Strabismus
- Dull reflex: Glaucoma
Normal visual development is dependent on…(2)
- Proper eye alignment
- Equal visual stimulation of each retina
Visual development is most critical during the first __-__ months of life
3-4
What is binocular fusion? What is required for binocular vision to develop?
The integration of retinal images from both eyes into a single, three dimensional perception
Binocular cortical connections are present at birth but apropriate visual input from each eye is necessary to refine and maintain these neural connections
What is the most common cause of decreased vision during childhood?
Amblyopia
What can lead to impairment in stereopsis (depth perception)?
- Improper eye alignment
- Any pathologic condition that unilaterally blurs the retinal image (congenital cataracts)
What is amblyopia?
Poor vision caused by abnormal visual stimulation that results in abnormal visual development
What is the most comomn cause of red watery eyes in the first 24 hours of life?
Chemical conjunctivitis (lasts less than 24 hours)
What factors can lead to more severe vision loss with amblyopia?
When are children most susceptible to amblyopia?
The earlier the onset, the longer the duration of the abnormal stimulus, and the more blurry the image, the more severe the vision loss
The first 3-4 months of life
What is the best screening test for amblyopia in infants and preverbal children?
In older children?
- Infants: bilateral red reflex test
- older children: Formal acuity testing
What are the management steps in treating amblyopia?
- Ensure that there is a clear retinal image by correcting any refractive errors with eyeglases or surgically removing opacities
- Patching the normal eye forces the use of the amblyopic eye
- The earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis
What are some causes of neonatal conjunctivitis (during 1st month of life)?
- Infection acquired from the vaginal canal or from hand-to-eye contamination (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex)
- Chemical conjunctivitis results from drops or ointment that are typically instilled into a newborn’s eyes as prophylaxis against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1% silver nitrate)
How do you distinguish conjunctivitis due to Neisseria vs. Chlamydia vs. herpes simplex?
- N. Gonorrhoeae: 2-4 days of life; purulent discharge, eyelid swelling and can lead to corneal ulcer
- C. Trachomatis: 4-10 days of life; serous or purulent discharge, variable lid swelling
- Herpes simplex: 6 days - 2 weeks of life; usually unilateral serous discharge
How is conjunctivitis treated when due to…
- N. Gonorrhoeae
- C. Trachomatis
- Herpes Simplex
- N. Gonorrhoeae: IV cefotaxime and topical erythromycin; treat parents
- C. Trachomatis: Oral erythromycin; treat parents
- Herpes simplex: IV acyclovir and topical trifluorothymidine
Define the following differential diagnoses for conjunctivitis
- Congenital glaucoma:
- Dacrocystitis:
- Endophthalmitis:
- Congenital glaucoma: Glaucoma characterized by clear tears, enlarged cornea, and corneal edema
- Dacrocystitis: Infection of nasolacrimal sac
- Endophthalmitis: Infection within the eye - rare and often results in blindness
What are the most common causes of red eyes in older infants and children?
- Viral
- Bacterial
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
What diagnoses should be considered if history includes unilateral conjunctivitis?
- Foreign body
- Corneal ulcer
- Herpes simplex keratitis
What are the steps in evaluaiton of red eye in children?
- History
- Occular examination (I-ARM)
- Fluorescein staining of corneal epithelium to evaluate for abrasion of the corneal tissue
- Positive staining associated with trauma, ulcer, or hepes simplex keratitis
If there are eosinophils on conjunctival scraping or severe itching of the eye, the cause of conjunctivitis is most likely…
Allergy
What are the differences between features of bacterial and viral conjunctivitis?
Bacterial: Purulent, no preauricular lymphadenopathy and bacteria and PMNs on gram stain
Viral: Watery, preauricular lymphadenopathy common, no bacteria on gram stain
Both have minimal itching
What are the most comomn causes of bacterial conjunctivitis?
- nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Staphylococcus aureus
What are some clinical features of bacterial conjunctivitis?
Purulent discharge, conjunctival erythema, lid swelling; bilateral involvement is common
What is the management for bacterial conjunctvitis?
Topical antibiotics are effective and include sulfacetamide, polymyxin B and trimethoprim sulfate, gentamicin, tobramyicin, and erythromycin
What indications are there for referral to an opthalmologist with a child who has bacterial conjunctivitis?
Severe eye involvement, conjunctivitis associated with contact lenses, suspected corneal ulcer, or lack of improvement with topical antibiotics
Describe pharyngoconjunctival fever
An upper respiratory infection that includes pharyngitis and fever and bilateral conjunctivitis
What are the clinical features of viral conjunctivitis?
Severe watery conjunctival discharge, hyperemic conjunctiva, preauricular lymphadenopathy, and foreign body sensation cause by corneal involvement
Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and lasts for…
2-3 weeks
What is the management of viral conjunctivitis?
Cool compresses and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drops; abx if bacterial superinfection occurs
What virus leads to epidemic keratoconjunctivitis? (similar to pharyngoconjunctival fever but confined to the eyes)
Adenovirus
What are the clinical features of Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis?
- Petechial conjnctival hemorrhage
- Pseudomembrane along conjunctiva
- Photophobia from corneal inflammation (in 1/3 of patients)
- Lack of fever or pharyngitis
- Highly contagious
What is the management of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis? When should the child be referred to an opthalmologist?
Treatment is supportive, including cool compresses and topical NSAID drops
Children with corneal involvement should be referred to an opthalmologist
Which type of herpes causes ocular herpes simplex infection?
HSV-1 (initial exposure)
What are the clinical features of ocular herpes simplex virus?
Skin eruption with multiple vesicular lesions
Corneal ulcer (rare)
What is the management of ocular herpes simplex?
- Systemic or topical acyclovir may speed recovery if administered within 1-2 days of onset
- Topical antibiotics applied to the skin may prevent secondary bacterial infection
What type of hypersensitivity reaction leads to allergic conjunctivitis?
Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction