Ophthalmology & Skin - Level 1/2 Flashcards
Definition of glaucoma?
- Glaucoma is group of eye diseases that cause progressive optic neuropathy, associated with raised IOP and characterised by visual field defects and changes to optic nerve (pathological cupping, pallor of disc)
- Raised IOP = >21mmHg
Anatomy of eye - anterior chamber?
o Anterior chamber – fluid-filled space between iris and cornea
Angle is between iris and cornea where they join sclera towards outside of the eye
Trabecular network situated in apex of anterior chamber angle and is main aqueous outflow route
Anatomy of eye - aqueous humour?
o Aqueous Humour – fluid produced from plasma by ciliary epithelium of ciliary body
Secreted into posterior chamber which is space between iris and lens, flows through pupil into anterior chamber and out of trabecular meshwork
Secretion increased by stimulation of beta-2 receptors and decreased by stimulation of alpha-2 receptors on ciliary body
Normal IOP of eye?
Pressure between 11-21mmHg is normal
Classifications of glaucoma?
o Age of onset – congenital, infantile, juvenile, adult
o Cause – primary, secondary
o Rate of onset – acute, subacute, chronic
o Anterior chamber open or closed
Definition and types of open angle glaucoma?
o Primary open angle glaucoma
Most common, >40 years, insidious onset, both eyes usually, raised IOP
o Normal tension glaucoma
POAG in normal IOP
o Secondary OA glaucoma
Definition and types of angle closure glaucoma?
o Primary angle closure glaucoma
Onset may be acute, subacute or chronic
Acute is medical emergency
o Secondary angle closure glaucoma
How common is ocular hypertension, POAG, PACG?
- Ocular hypertension – 3-5% of over 40 year olds
- POAG – 2% of over 40s – increases with age
- PACG – women 3x more, increases with age
Risk factors of open angle glaucoma?
Raised IOP Older age FHx Black people Corticosteroid treatment Myopia T2DM Hypertension
Risk factors of angle-closure glaucoma?
Older age
Women 2-3x
Asian people
Short, hyperopic eyes
Aetiology of primary open angle glaucoma?
Visual loss due to damage to retinal ganglion cells due to raised IOP causing mechanical pressure damage to axons of cells
Aetiology of secondary open angle glaucoma?
Pseudoexfoliative – organelles deposited on trabecular meshwork
Pigmentary – pigment from iris deposited in trabecular meshwork
Neovascular – diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion
Uveitic – uveitis
Steroid-induced
Angle-recession – trauma
Aetiology of primary angle-closure glaucoma?
Peripheral iris comes into contact with trabecular meshwork that restricts drainage of aqueous humour from eye
Symptoms of acute angle closure glaucoma?
o Eye pain – severe
Spreads around orbit with generalied headache
o Headache, nausea and vomiting
o Red eye
o Impaired visual acuity, blurred vision and lights seen surrounded by halos (hazy oedematous cornea)
o Semi-dilated and fixed pupil (fixed in vertically oval shape)
o Tender, hard eye
Symptoms of ocular hypertension and POAG?
o Usually by optometrists in routine eye exams
o Increased IOP, visual field defects and cupped optic disc
When should people get examined for glaucoma?
- Advise people with the follow risk factors to get eyes examined:
o Older age
o FHx of glaucoma
o Black African
Management of acute angle closure glaucoma - primary care?
Admit immediately for specialist ophthalmology assessment and treatment
If immediate admission not possible – start emergency treatment
• Person lie flat with face up and head not supported by pillows
• Drugs – pilocarpine eye drops (1 drop of 2% in blue eyes, 4% in brown eyes), acetazolamide 500mg oral, analgesia and anti-emetic PRN
Management of acute angle closure glaucoma - secondary care initial treatment?
• Topical and IV drugs to reduce IOP
o Pilocarpine
o Acetazolamide
• Analgesia
Management of acute angle closure glaucoma - secondary care definitive treatment?
- Laser iridotomy (creates holes in iris to allow aqueous humour to flow into anterior chamber)
- Iridoplasty or cataract removal
Management of POAG or ocular hypertension - drug treatment?
o Under direction of ophthalmologist
o Drug treatment
Topical prostaglandin analogue or prostamide
• Latanoprost, travoprost
Topical beta-blocker
o Lifetime monitoring
Management of POAG or ocular hypertension - other treatments?
Add other drug or carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
Laser procedures
• Selective laser trabeculoplasty
• Argon laser trabeculoplasty
• Micro-pulse laser trabeculoplasty
Surgical procedures
• Trabeculectomy
• Insertion of drainage shunt
Prognosis of POAG?
o Progresses slowly without treatment over years, most people asymptomatic until severe disease
o Visual loss is peripheral at first
Prognosis of PACG?
o Half of glaucoma related blindness
o Needs prompt treatment
Definition of cataracts?
- Opacity forming within lens of the eye which reduces transparency
Classification of cataracts?
o Nuclear – central part of lens, most common
o Cortical – outer layer of lens
o Subcapsular – directly under lens capsule
Types of cataracts?
o Congenital – present at birth or within 1st year of life
o Developmental – develop after infancy
o Traumatic
Epidemiology of cataracts?
- Older age increases incidence
- Most common elective surgical procedure
Causes of cataracts?
o Ageing o Secondary – chronic anterior uveitis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, high myopia o Trauma – blunt or penetrating injury o DM o Myotonic dystrophy o Neurofibromatosis Type 2 o Atopic dermatitis o Congenital – hereditary, rubella, CMV, HSV, toxoplasmosis, Down’s, Edward’s, galactossaemia o FHx o Steroid treatment o Smoking
Symptoms of cataracts?
o Gradual, painless reduction in visual acuity
Difficulty reading, recognising faces, watching television
o Glaring
o Reduced colour intensity
o Double vision in one eye
Signs of cataracts?
o Reduced acuity
o Opacity seen in lens
o Red reflex reduced
When are babies screened for cataracts?
o All babies screened at birth and 6 weeks for cataracts
o May have nystagmus, squint, sensitivity to light, lighter pupil
Investigations of cataracts?
- Document last visual acuity if referring
- Slit lamp at optometrists
Management of cataracts - surgical treatment - when to refer for cataracts surgery?
- Visual impairment and affecting lifestyle (driving, reading)
- Comorbidity that may benefit from surgery – elderly falls risk
- Another eye condition where treatment will help
Management of cataracts - surgical treatment - benefits?
• Improve acuity, clarity and colour vision
Management of cataracts - surgical treatment - risks?
- Posterior capsular opacity – needs laser treatment
- Bruising to eye
- Raised intraocular pressure
- Macular oedema
- Need for glasses
- Detached retina
Management of cataracts - surgical treatment - biometry techniques before surgery?
- Optical biometry to measure axial length of eye
- Keratometry to measure curvature of cornea
- Used to calculate lens power
Management of cataracts - surgical treatment - surgical technique and drug managements?
- Small incision surgery with phacoemulsion + intraocular lens implant
- Offer bilateral if both affected and low risk of complications
- Antibiotic and antinflammatory drops for 3-6 weeks after
Management of cataracts - fitness to drive?
Contact DVLA and not drive if either apply:
• Group 1 – cannot read number plate at 20 metres, visual acuity >6/12 corrected
• Group 2 – Visual acuity of >6/7.5 in better eye and at least 6/60 in other eye
Management of cataracts - in children?
o Urgent referral to ophthalmologist on same-day if red reflex shows:
Opacity, absences, white pupil
o Urgent referral if:
Inequality in colour, intensity or clarity of reflection
Prognosis of cataracts?
o Without treatment – progresses without any chance of recovery
o With surgery – 95% have 6/12 best correct vision if no pathology
o In children – no treatment can lead to amblyopia
Definitions of corneal abrasions, ulcers and dendritic ulcers?
- Corneal abrasions – defects in epithelial surface
- Corneal ulcer – epithelial defect with corneal infiltrate
- Dendritic ulcer – branching staining pattern characteristic of herpetic infection
Causes of corneal ulcers?
o Bacterial (pseudomonas progresses rapidly) o Herpetic (HSV, HZV) o Fungal (candida, aspergillus) o Protozoal (acanthamoeba) o Vasculitis (RA)
Risk factors of corneal ulcers?
o Contact lens wearer o Corneal trauma o Corneal abrasion o Immunocompromised o Trichiasis o Herpes infection
Symptoms of corneal ulcers?
o Severe eye pain
o Lacrimation
o Inability to open eye
o Red Eye
Signs of corneal ulcers?
o Reduced visual acuity
o Photophobia
o High IOP
Management of corneal ulcers in primary care?
- Refer to emergency eye service if:
o Corneal ulcer
Investigations of corneal ulcers in eye casualty?
Slit Lamp & Fluorescein staining
Ulcer
Dendritic Ulcer - HSV
Corneal scraping
Microscopy
Cultures and Sensitivity
• Blood agar, chocolate agar (haemophilus, neisseria), thioglycolate broth (anaerobic), non-nutrient agar, Lowenstein-Jensen’s medium (Mycobacteria, Nocardia)
Management of dendritic ulcers?
o Aciclovir 3% eye drops – 5x daily (can be oral if severe)
o Atropine 1% drops for photophobia
o PRN analgesia (paracetamol & ibuprofen)
Management of corneal ulcers?
o Chloramphenicol + Ofloxacin drops
o Atropine 1% drops for photophobia
o PRN analgesia (paracetamol & ibuprofen)
o Topical steroid drops (prednisolone)
Management of fungal ulcers?
o Natamycin drops
o Atropine 1% drops for photophobia
o PRN analgesia (paracetamol & ibuprofen)
Management of acanthamoeba ulcers?
o Chlorhexadine drops
o Oral Itraconazole
o Atropine 1% drops for photophobia
o PRN analgesia (paracetamol & ibuprofen)
Description of stye?
- Also known as a hordeolum
- Acute localised infection or inflammation of eyelid margin
Types of stye?
o External stye (common)
Eyelid margin
Caused by infection of eyelash follicle or associated sebaceous or apocrine gland
o Internal Stye (meibomian stye)
On conjunctival surface
Caused by infection of meibomian gland (within tarsal plate) and usually more painful
Risk factors of stye?
o Chronic blepharitis o Acne rosacea o Ingrown eyelashes (trichiasis) o Ectropion o DM
Causes of stye?
o Staphylococcal infection – most common
Symptoms of stye?
- Acute, painful, localised eyelid swelling developing over several days
o Generally, only one eye – can be bilateral
o Water excessively - No changes in visual acuity
- External – located on eyelid margin, around follicle, points anteriorly through the skin, may have us-filled spot
- Internal – tender on internal eyelid, on everting of eye welling of tarsal plate
Management of stye - in primary care?
o Apply warm compress (clean flannel with warm water) to eye for 5-10 minutes and repeat several times a day
o Do not attempt to puncture stye
o Avoid eye makeup or contact lenses until healed
o Plucking eyelash from infected follicle can facilitate drainage
o Incision and drainage if appropriate
Management of stye - when to refer and what management in ophthalmology?
Admit if signs of periorbital or orbital cellulitis
2-week-wait if signs of skin cancer
Refer to ophthalmologist for incision and drainage if:
Stye is persistent and has not discharged following conservative
treatment
Internal stye if large or very painful
Prognosis of stye?
o Self-limiting
o Resolution within 5-7 days
Complications of stye?
- Conjunctivitis
- Perioribital or orbital cellulitis
- Meibomian cyst (chalazion)
Description of Meibomian cyst (chalazion)?
o Sterile, inflammatory granuloma caused by obstruction of sebaceous gland
o Often indistinguishable from stye (chalazion usually less painful and acute)
Symptoms of Meibomian cysts?
Firm, painless, localised eyelid swelling developed over several weeks
Treatments of Meibomian cysts?
Apply warm compress, massage cyst after application in direction of eyelashes, refer if chronic
Definition of infective conjunctivitis?
- Redness and inflammation of conjunctiva (thin layer that covers front of eye)
- Hyperaemic vessels may be moved to sclera by pressure on globe
o Hyper-acute conjunctivitis is a rapidly developing severe conjunctivitis typically caused by infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
What is Ophthalmia neonatorum?
o Ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) is conjunctivitis occurring within the first four weeks of life
Can be infectious or non-infectious
Can be caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis
Causative organisms of infective conjunctivitis?
o Viral
Most common 80% adenoviruses
HSV, VZV, EBV, enterovirus
o Bacterial
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoea
Causative organisms of Ophthalmia neonatorum?
o Purulent or mucopurulent discharge with crusting of lids, may be stuck together on waking
o If copious – consider Neisseria gonorrhoea
o Pre-auricular lymph nodes
Symptoms of viral infective conjunctivitis?
o Mild to moderate erythema o Subconjunctival haemorrhages o Watery discharge o Mild pruritus o URTI and pre-auricular lymph nodes
Symptoms of bacterial infective conjunctivitis?
o Purulent or mucopurulent discharge with crusting of lids, may be stuck together on waking
o If copious – consider Neisseria gonorrhoea
o Pre-auricular lymph nodes
STI causes of conjunctivitis?
o Chlamydia
Chronic low-grade irritation and mucous discharge, mostly unilateral
o Gonorrhoea
Rapid development of copious mucopurulent discharge, eyelide swelling, tender lymph nodes
Symptoms in Ophthalmia neonatorum?
o Discharge in first few weeks of life
Investigations if gonococcal infection suspected?
- Gram staining and culture if gonococcal suspected
Management of infective conjunctivitis - when to refer to ophthalmology?
o Red flag for serious red eye disease o Ophthalmia neonatorum o Suspected gonococcal or chlamydial conjunctivitis o Herpes infection o Cellulitis o Recent intraocular surgery o Systemic conditions
Management of infective conjunctivitis - viral?
o Self-limiting – resolve in 1-2 weeks
o Bathe eyelids with cotton wool soaked in sterile water
o Cold compresses around eyes
o Artificial tears
Management of infective conjunctivitis - bacterial?
o Chloramphenicol 0.5%/1% topical drops
Apply 1 drop 2-hourly for 2 days then QDS for 5 days
o Chloramphenicol 1%
Apply 1 drop QDS for 2 days then, 1 drop BDS for 5 days
o Fusidic acid 1% drops
Apply BDS for 7 days
Management of infective conjunctivitis - neonates?
o Treat with neomycin
Management of infective conjunctivitis - ophthalmia neonatorum?
o Gonococcal infection should be cultured and treated with 3rd generation cephalosporin given
o If chlamydia infection then treated with oral erythromycin
Prognosis of infective conjunctivitis?
- Viral – most cases resolve in 7 days
- Bacterial – resolves within 10 days
Definition of allergic conjunctivitis?
- Redness and inflammation of conjunctiva (thin layer that covers front of eye)
- Hyperaemic vessels may be moved to sclera by pressure on globe
o Associated with IgE antibodies bind to mast cells in conjunctiva causing degranulation and inflammation with histamine:
Itching due to activation of H1 receptors and redness, swelling
Types of allergic conjunctivitis?
Seasonal allergic (hayfever)
Perennial allergic – non-seasonal environmental allergences (houst dust mites, mould spores, animal dander)
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis – hot, arid environments
Atopic
Causes of allergic conjunctivitis?
o 15-40% of population
o Mostly in spring and summer
Epidemiology of allergic conjunctivitis?`
o Allergic, mechanical/irritative/toxic, immune-mediated and neoplastic
Symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis?
o Eyes itch, burn, ‘gritty feeling’ and lacrimate
o Watery discharge, tearing
o Conjunctival redness, swelling
o Eyelid oedema
o May have rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, eczema
Symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis?
o Typically resolves after puberty
o Worse in spring
o Giant papillae on superior tarsal conjunctiva, Horner’s points (yellow white points)
Symptoms of atopic allergic conjunctivitis?
o Chronic itching, tearing, swelling, corneal scarring
Management of allergic conjunctivitis - urgent referral to ophthalmology?
Atopic, vernal or giant papillary conjunctivitis
Severe or resistant conjunctivitis
Management of allergic conjunctivitis - routine referral to ophthalmology?
Atopic, vernal or giant papillary conjunctivitis
Severe or resistant conjunctivitis
Management of allergic conjunctivitis - sticky eyes in 1st few days of life?
o Clean with saline
o Eye drops lubricating
o Usually self-limiting and rarely causes loss of vision (resolves within 5-10 days)
Management of allergic conjunctivitis -general advice?
Avoid allergens, ventilate home, washing hair before bed
Avoid eye rubbing
Cold compress on eyes
Artificial tears help lubricate eye
Management of allergic conjunctivitis - drug treatment?
Topical antihistamines
Cromoglycate eye drops
Causes of eye trauma?
o Mechanical trauma (fingernail, twig, paper edge, mascara brush, trichiasis) o Foreign bodies (dust, rust, glass) o Chemical burns o Exposure to UV light o Contact lenses on insertion or removal
Symptoms of eye trauma?
o Precipitating event of injury o Unilateral sudden onset eye pain on blinking o Gritty or scratchy sensation o Lacrimation o Photophobia o Blurred vision o Conjunctival redness
Signs of penetrating injury eye trauma?
o Distorted globe
o Conjunctival laceration
o Distorted iris or pupil
o Air bubbles under cornea
Signs of abrasion in eye trauma?
o Ciliary injection
o Epithelial defect with fluorescein
Signs of foreign body in eye trauma?
o Visible FB
o Rust ring, if ferrous FB embedded
Management of eye trauma - when to refer?
o Suspected penetrating eye injury or foreign body suspected o Orbital trauma o Chemical Injury o Retained foreign body o Corneal ulcer o Metallic rust ring
Management of eye trauma - corneal abrasion?
Refer large abrasions
Topical chloramphenicol ointment for 7 days
• Fusidic acid 2nd line
Oral paracetamol
Avoid wearing contact lenses for two weeks
Re-evaluate in 24 hours to check resolving
Follow up in 24 hours
• Refer is vision worsening, symptoms not improving, abrasion increased in size, rust ring