Ophthalmology: Eye Conditions 4 Flashcards
Remind yourself of what causes:
- Pupil constriction
- Pupil dilation
- Pupil constriction: contraction of sphincter pupillae which is under parasympathetic control; parasympathetic travel with CNIII
- Pupil dilation: contraction of dilator pupillae which is under sympathetic control
State some potential causes of abnormally shaped pupils
- Anterior uveitis (posterior synechiae)
- Acute angle closure glaucoma (vertical oval due to ischaemic damage to iris muscles)
- Trauma to sphincter muscles in iris (e.g. due to eye surgery)
- Rubeosis iridis (neovascularisation can distort shape of iris & pupil- associated with diabetic retinopathy)
- Coloboma (congenital malformation causing hole in eye)
- Tadpole pupil (spasm in segment of iris; usually temporary and associated with migraines)
State some causes of mydriasis (dilated pupil)
- Third nerve palsy
- Holmes-Adie syndrome
- Raised intracranial pressure
- Congenital
- Trauma
- Stimulants such as cocaine
- Anticholinergics
State some causes of miosis (constricted pupil)
- Horners syndrome
- Cluster headaches
- Argyll-Robertson pupil (in neurosyphilis)
- Opiates
- Nicotine
- Pilocarpine
What three features does a third nerve palsy cause?
- Dilated non-reactive pupil
- Ptosis (complete)
- Down & out position of eye (divergent strabismus)
State some causes of third nerve palsy with sparing of the pupil
Sparing of pupil suggests microvascular cause (parasympathetic run in periphery):
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Ischaemia
State some causes of complete/full third nerve palsy
Caused by compression of CNIII (also called a surgical third nerve palsy due to physical compression):
- Idiopathic
- Trauma
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis
- Posterior communicating artery aneurysm
- Raised ICP
For Horner’s syndrome, discuss:
- What it is
- Features
- How you can figure out location of lesion based on anhidrosis distribution
- Syndrome caused by damage to sympathetic nerves supplying the face
- Features: ptosis, miosis & anhidrosis
- Link between anhidrosis & location:
- Central lesions: anhidrosis of arm, trunk & face
- Pre-ganglionic: anhidrosis of face
- Post-ganglionic: does not cause anhidrosis
Horner’s syndrome can be caused by central lesions, pre-ganglionic lesions and post ganglionic lesions; state some potential causes for each
**HINT: 4S’s (sentral), 4T’s (torso/pre-ganglionic), 4C’s (cervical/post-ganglionic)
Central lesions (4 Ss):
- S – Stroke
- S – Multiple Sclerosis
- S – Swelling (tumours)
- S – Syringomyelia (cyst in the spinal cord)
Pre-ganglionic lesions (4 Ts):
- T – Tumour (Pancoast’s tumour)
- T – Trauma
- T – Thyroidectomy
- T – Top rib (a cervical rib growing above the first rib above the clavicle)
Post-ganglionic lesion (4 Cs):
- C – Carotid aneurysm
- C – Carotid artery dissection
- C – Cavernous sinus thrombosis
- C – Cluster headache
What is congenital Horner syndrome associated with?
Heterochromia (difference in iris colour)
How can we test for Horner’s syndrome?
- Cocaine eye drops: cocaine prevents noradrenaline re-uptake at neuromuscular junction hence causes a normal eye to dilate; however, in Horner syndrome the nerves are not releasing noradrenalin to start with so blocking re-uptake makes no difference and so there is no pupil reaction
- Or low concentration adrenaline eye drops: won’t dilate a normal pupil but will dilate a Horner syndrome pupil
What is a Holmes Adie pupil?
What causes a Holmes Adie pupil?
What is Holmes-Adie syndrome?
- Unilateral (80%) dilated pupil that is sluggish to react to light with slow dilation of pupil following constriction (i.e. once it has constricted it remains small for abnormally long time)
- Damage to post-ganglionic parasympathetic fibres
- Holmes-Adie pupil in association with absent ankle & knee reflexes
What is an Argyll-Robertson pupil?
What condition is it found in?
*HINT: commonly called ‘prostitutes pupil’
- Constricted pupil, often irregularly shaped, that accommodates but does not react to light
- Neurosyphilis (also diabetes)
**Called prostitutes pupil as it ‘accommodates but doesn’t react’
For blepharitis, discuss:
- What it is
- Presentation
- Management
- Inflammation of eyelid margins due to either dysfunction of Meibomian glands (posterior blepharitis, more common) or seborrheic dermatitis or staphylococcal infection (anterior blepharitis, less common)
- Presentation:
- Gritty sensation
- Dry eyes
- Itchy
- Eyes may be sticky in morning
- Red eyelid margins
- Swollen eyelids in Staphylococcal blepharitis
- Management:
- Hot compress twice daily
- Lid hygiene (e.g. clean with cotton bud dipped in cooled boiled water with baby shampoo)
- Artificial tears (symptomatic relief)
State the two types of hordeolum
- External (hordeolum externum): infection (usually staphylococcal) of the glands of Zeis (sebum producing) or glands of Moll (sweat glands).
- Internal (hordeolum internum): infection of the Meibomian glands. May leave a residual chalazion (Meibomian cyst)
For styes, discuss:
- What they are
- Presentation
- Management
- Infection of glands of Zeis (sebaceous glands at base of eyelashes) or glands on Moll (sweat glands at base of eyelashes)
- Presentation:
- Tender, red lump along eyelid
- May contain puss
- Management:
- Hot compress
- Analgesia
- Topical abx if associated with conjunctivitis or persistent
For chalazions (Meibomian gland cysts), discuss:
- What they are
- Presentation
- Management
- Blockage and subsequent swelling of Meibomian gland (inflammation not infection)
- Presentation:
- Eyelid swelling
- Red eyelid
- Typically not tender
- Management
- Hot compress
- Analgesia
- Topical abx if acutely inflamed or associated infection
- Rarely, surgical drainage
For entropion, discuss:
- What it is
- Potential consequences
- Management
- Eyelid turns inwards (lashes against eyeball)
- Can result in pain & corneal damage and ulceration
- Management:
- Initial: taping eyelid down to prevent inturning & regular lubricating drops (MUST GIVE LUBRICATING DROPS)
- Definitive: surgery
For ectropion, discuss:
- What it is
- Potential consequences
- Management
- Eyelid turns outwards so that inner aspect of eyelid is exposed
- Can result in exposure keratopathy as eyeball exposed and not adequately lubricated or protected
- Management:
- Mild: lubricating eyedrops if pt feels they would benefit, tape eyelid closed at night
- More significant: surgery
For trichiasis, discuss:
- What it is
- Presentation
- Management
- Inward growth of eyelashes
- Result in pain, corneal damage & ulceration
- Management:
- Epilation by specialist (removal of eyelashes)
- Recurrent cases may require further treatments e.g. lasers to prevent eyelashes regrowing
What is pre-septal/periorbital cellulitis?
Infection of soft tissues anterior to orbital septum (eyelids, skin & subcutaneous tissue of face)