Ophthalmology Flashcards
What are the extraocular muscles?
Superior, inferior, medial and lateral rectus.
Superior and inferior oblique.
What is the conjunctiva?
The white outer coat of the eye.
What is the cornea?
The clear front window of the eye which transmits and helps to focus light.
What is the function of the lens?
To focus light rays onto the retina.
What is the vitreous?
Clear gel filling central cavity of the eye.
What are the photoreceptors on the retina?
Rods and cones
What is the choroid?
Layer at the back of the eye between the retina and sclera. It contains blood vessels and is associated with macular degeneration.
What is the macula?
An area near the centre of the retina responsible for detailed central vision. It deteriorates with age.
Which cranial nerve is the optic nerve?
2nd cranial nerve.
How far does your visual field extend?
Horizontally to 60 degrees nasally to 100 degrees temporally.
Vertically approximately 60 degrees above and 75 degrees below the horizontal meridian.
What are the parts of the visual pathway?
Optic nerve Optic chiasm Lateral geniculate nucleus Optic radiation Visual cortex
Where do the optic nerves join?
The optic chiasm
What do the numerator and denominator in a snellen chart represent?
Numerator = the distance at which the patient can see the observed line. Denominator = the distance at which a normal healthy eye could see the same line.
Name some causes of traumatic red eye.
Corneal abrasion/foreign body
Subconjunctival haemorrhage/conjunctival laceration
Chemical injury
Penetrating ocular trauma
Name some causes of non-traumatic red eye.
Conjunctivitis Subconjunctival haemorrhage Keratitis iritis Episcleritis, scleritis Acute glaucoma Cellulitis
What are the signs of conjunctivitis?
Papillae Redness Follicles Chemosis Purulent discharge
What are papillae?
Vascular response.
Coblestone arrangement of flattened nodules with central vascular cores. Can be large in size (>1mm) - giant papillae.
What are follicles?
Lymphoid hyperplasia. Small done-shaped nodules without a prominent central vessel.
How can you distinguish between papillae and follicles?
Papilla clinically appears more red on its surface and more pale at its base, a follicle appears more pale on its surface and more red at its base.
What is chemosis?
Swelling or oedema of the conjunctiva.
Is viral conjunctivitis more likely to present with follicles or papillae?
Follicles
What is the treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis?
Topical antibiotics
What is the most common infectious cause of blindness?
Trachoma
What causes trachoma?
Repeated episodes of infection with chlamydia trachomatis in childhood.
What is trachoma?
Severe conjunctival inflammation, scarring and potentilly blinding in-turned eye lashes in later life.
Where does trachoma occur?
In resource poor areas with inadequate hygiene and crowding.
How does a corneal ulcer differ from a corneal abrasion?
A corneal ulcer involves the stroma.
What are the risk factors for corneal ulcers?
Trauma Contact lens use Ocular surface disease e.g. dry eyes, blephritis Lid disease Systemic disease e.g. RA
What are the clinical features of corneal ulcers?
Pain Foreign body sensation Redness Photophobia Tearing Discharge Reduced vision
What are the acute complications of corneal ulcers?
Scleral extension
Corneal perforation
Endophthalmitis
What are the long term complications of corneal ulcers?
Corneal scarring - if central can affect vision.
What are the investigations for corneal ulcers?
Corneal scrapes
If contact lens wearer send lenses, solution and case for culture.
Swabs - viral PCR
Which virus can cause a dendritic corneal ulcer?
Herpes simplex keratitis
What is the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis?
Aciclovir ointment
What are the features of acanthamoeba?
Pain disproportionate to clinical findings, ring shape infiltrates, perineurla infiltrates.
What is the treatment for corneal ulcers?
Unless clinically very suggestive of a certain cause, usually antibacterial therapy is started until culture results are back. Broad spectrum cover e.g. cephalosporin and gentamicin (amnoglycoside).
What are the symptoms of scleritis?
Acute red eye Pain on eye movement Globe tenderness SEVERE pain Rare: associated with RA and GPA.
What is the management of scleritis?
Oral steroids
Investigation for underlying cause or vasculitis.
What is episcleritis?
Diffuse or sectoral red eye
Mild pain
Self limiting
What is the management of episcleritis?
Topical NSAIDs
Topical steroids
Not always required.
What is uveitis?
Inflammation of the uveal tract and often neighbouring structure e.g. retina, vitreous and optic nerve.
What is the uveal tract comprised of?
Iris
Ciliary body
Choroid
What are the causes of uveitis?
Idiopathic Trauma Infectious Autoimmune Masquerade
What are the symptoms of uveitis?
Anterior: photophobia, redness, watering, pain, reduced vision.
Intermediate: reduced vision, floaters, photopsia
Posterior: reduced vision, photopsia, floaters, scotoma
What are the signs of anterior uveitis?
Limbal injection Anterior chamber cells AC flare Poserior synechiae Keratitic precipitates Fibrin and hypopyon
What are the signs of intermediate and posterior uveitis?
Vitreous haze
Snowballs
Multicfocal choroiditis
Retinitis
What are the complications of uveitis?
Raised intraocular pressure
Cataract
Cystoid macular oedema
Optic neuropathy
What is the treatment of uveitis?
Treat cause.
Anterior: topical steroids
Intermediate: topical steroids.
Posterior: systemic steroids.
What are the risks of angle closure glaucoma?
Older
Hypermetrope (long sighted)
Phakic
What are the symptoms of angle closure glaucoma?
Pain (severe)
Headache
Photophobia
Reduced vision
What are the signs of angle closure glaucoma?
Red eye
Hazy cornea
Fixed, mid dilated pupil
Iris bombe
What is the management of acute angle closure glaucoma?
Urgent referral Reduce intraocular pressure: IV acetazolamide/mannitol Pilocarpine to constrict pupil Topical steroid Topical pressure lowering drops
What is a corenal abrasion?
A scratch on the eye - defect in epithelium.
What is the management of a corneal abrasion?
Chloramphenicol ointment
QDS 3 days
What is the management of a foreign body in the eye?
Remove foreign body
Chloramphenicol ointment for 3 days
What is the management of chemical injuries to the eye?
Irrigate immediately - at least 2L, evert eyelids.
pH after irrigation, then 5 mins and 20 mins
What are the symptoms of globe rupture?
Pain +++ Obvious penetrating injury Suspicious mechanism of injury Irregular pupil 360 degrees subconj haem Flat AC
What is the management of suspected globe rupture?
Don't press on it! Measure VA Slit lamp/pupils if able - analgesia - antibiotics - tetanus CT (thin slice) Call opthalmology
What is the clinical presentation of a retrobulbar haemorrhage?
Reduced vision RAPD Raised pressure Pain Proptosis Reduced motility
What is the most common type of orbital fracture?
Floor fracture
What is the management of orbital cellulitis?
IV antibiotics
CT
What is Hutchinson’s sign in shingles?
Nasociliary nerve involvement.
What is the treatment for shingles?
PO aciclovir
How does cataract present?
Gradual onset Reduced vision Usually bilateral (but asymmetric) Can also cause: Glare Monocular diplopia Progressive myopia
What are the triad of features of glaucoma?
Raised IOP
Optic nerve changes
Visual field loss
What are the typical symptoms of age related macular degeneration?
Gradual blurring of central vision
Difficulty reading
Sudden deterioration if develops ‘wet’ disease
What are the risk factors for developing macular degeneration?
Smoking Family history Female > Male Caucasian Diet Cardiovascular disease Hypermetropia
What are the clinical signs of dry age related macular degeneration?
Progressive atrophy Loss of RPE and photoreceptors Thickening of Bruch's membrane Drusen Pigment clumping Atrophy
What is the pathophysiology of wet ARMD?
Neovascular growth of capillaries from choroid into subretinal space
Leads to leakage and bleeding
What is the management of wet ARMD?
Intravitreal injections - anti VEGF
VEGF-A - induces pathological angiogenesis
Anti-VEGF: reduces vascular permeability, reduce fluid leakage, halt progression of neovascularisation.
What are the clinical features of retinal tear and detachment?
Rapid onset Associated flashes and floaters Curtain coming down Unilateral Painless
What are the possible causes of flashes and floaters?
Retinal detachment
Posterior vitreous detachment
Vitreous haemorrhage (proliferative diabetic retinopathy)
Migraine (coloured lights)
Describe vitreous.
Gel-like consistency
Provides shape, cushions eye
Water (99%), collagen
What are the possible complications related to the vitreous degenerating with age?
Posterior vitreous detachment
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
What are the risk factors for retinal detachment?
Age Trauma Myopia Previous cataract surgery Previous laser refractive surgery Family history Fellow eye (1 in 10)
What are the management options for a retinal detachment?
Vitrectomy (remove the traction)
Laser/cryo (seal the hole)
Gas/oil (tamponade the break)
What is the typical presentation of central retinal artery occlusion?
Sudden onset, painless loss of vision
What are the signs of central retinal artery occlusion?
VA <6/60
RAPD
Pale/swollen retina
Cherry red spot
What other pathology is central retinal artery occlusion associated with?
Giant cell arteritis