Ophthalmology: Introduction to Vision Flashcards
Define visual acuity
Resolving power of the eye
…minimum visible, separable, legible
The denominator in Snellen acuity indicates the distance (in feet) at which a letter will subtend…
…a visual angle of 5 minutes of arc
Functional vs Physiological VA limits
Functional = 20/10
Anatomical limits = 20/08 (single cone cell)
Which chart is used for VA qualifications for aviation applicants and designated aviation personnel?
“Good-Lite” (Sloan Magnetic Randomized Letter) Chart
Note: “Snellen” Eye Chart is the one typically seen in offices on the wall
Emmetropia
Standard refractive power and axial length…
- aka refractive condition where parallel light rays focus on the retina when the eye is at rest…*
- aka where the image of an object at 20ft focuses directly on the fovea*
“Normal”
Ametropic Eye
Non-standard refractive power or axial length
- Excessive/insufficient power*
- Longer/shorter axial length*
Myopia
“Nearsightedness”
A refractive condition in which light rays focus in front of the retina
Hyperopia
A refractive condition in which light rays focus behind the retina
“Farsightedness”
What causes myopia?
Excessive power (steeper cornea)
OR
Axial length is too long (“big eye”)
What causes hyperopia?
Deficient power (flatter cornea)
OR
Axial length is too short (“small eye”)
Which lenses correct myopia?
Minus lenses (diverging/concave)
Note: minus refers to negative focal point (aka left of lens)
Which lenses correct hyperopia?
Plus lenses (converging/convex)
Note: plus refers to positive focal length (right of lens)
Excessive refractive ametropia
aka excessive power = myopia
“nearsightedness”
Deficient refractive ametropia
aka Deficient Power = hyperopia
“farsightedness”
Axial Ametropia
Too long = myopia (nearsighted)
Too short = hyperopia (farsighted)
Define accommodation
The process of the lens changing its focusing power for near and far distances
Remember…ciliary body relaxed = zonules under tension
CB constricts = zonules relaxed = lens bulges = increased refractive power
True/False
Amplitude of accommodation is independent of age
False
- Presbyopia = normal changes that lead to symptoms at age 40*
- Pharmaceutical agents (atropine/cyclopentolate/tropicamide) and neurological (rare) causes can also lead to decreased accommodation*
Presbyopia
literally “old eyeballs”
Decreased accommodation with normal aging (symptomatic at about age 40)
18D at birth, less than 1D at age 65
Near objects focus ______ the retina in an unaccommodated eye
behind
Why presbyopia is corrected with plus lenses
Astigmatism
Light focusing in 2 spots due to 2 curvatures on the cornea and/or lens
“Multiple focal points”
Symptoms of Astigmatism
- Reduced vision at distance/near
- Elongated appearance of lights at night
- Normal vision during the day, blurry at night
Correction for astigmatism
Cylindrical lenses (usually sphero-cylindrical)
True/False
Corneal Astigmatism shouldn’t dramatically change with age
True
Unlike lens astigmatism, which increases mildly with age