OPTHALMOLOGY Flashcards
What is the difference between Episcleritis and scleritis?
Scleritis = painful Episcleritis = not painful
What is a key cause of corneal abrasions?
Herpes simplex
What is the most common cause of Episcleritis?
idiopathic
What are the four slit lamp signs seen in anterior uveitis?
conjunctival injection
keratin precipitates
anterior chamber cells
posterior synechiae
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to the optic nerve damage that is caused by a significant rise in intraocular pressure.
What causes the raised intraocular pressure in gluacoma?
The drainage of aqueous fluid is blocked.
What is the normal intraocular pressure?
10-21 mmHg
How is normal intraocular pressure maintained?
Trabecular mesh
What is the pathophysiology of open angle glaucoma?
Thickening of the trabecular mesh slows the drainage of aqueous fluid.
What is cupping?
Cup (small indent in the centre of the optic disc) becomes more than 0.5x the diameter of the optic disc.
What are risk factors for open angle glaucoma?
Black ethnicity
Age
Family history
Near sightedness (myopia)
When should you receive screening if you have a positive family history of glaucoma?
Annual screening from the age of 40
What is the presentation of open angle glaucoma?
Often asymptomatic
Visual field changes (tunnel vision)
Headaches
Pain
Halos appearing around lights (worse at night)
How is vision affected?
Peripheral vision is affected first
How is open angle glaucoma usually picked up?
Optometrist (incidental)
How is intraocular pressure measured?
- Non-contact tonometry
2. Goldmann applanation tonometry
What is the gold standard way to measure intraocular pressure?
Goldmann applanation tonometry (using a slit lamp)
How can cupping be visualised?
Fundoscopy
Which three tests are used to make the diagnosis of open angle glaucoma?
- Goldmann applanation tonometry
- Fundoscopy
- Visual fields assessment
At what intraocular pressure is treatment commenced for open angle glaucoma?
24 mmHg
What is the first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma?
Prostaglandin analogue eye drops (Latanoprost)
Name some side-effects of prostaglandin analogue eye drops.
Browning of the iris
Pigmentation of the eyelid
Lengthening of the eyelashes
Name three other medical options for treating open angle glaucoma.
- Beta-blockers - Timolol
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors - Dorzolamide
- Sympathomimetics - Brimonidine
What is tried if eyedrops are ineffective?
Surgery - Trabeculectomy
What is the pathophysiology of acute closed angle glaucoma?
Acute angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the iris bulges forward and seals off the trabecular meshwork from the anterior chamber preventing aqueous humour from being able to drain away.
This leads to a continual build-up of pressure in the eye. The pressure builds up particularly in the posterior chamber, which causes pressure behind the iris and worsens the closure of the angle.
Ophthalmology emergency
What are the risk factors for closed angle glaucoma?
Age Family history Chinese/Asian ethnicity Female Shallow anterior chamber
Which medications can precipitate acute closed angle glaucoma?
Adrenergic medications - noradrenaline
Anticholinergic medications - oxybutynin and solifenacin
Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline
How does acute closed angle glaucoma present?
Painful, red eye
Blurred vision
Halos around lights
Headache, nausea, vomiting
What can be seen on examination in closed angle glaucoma?
Red-eye Teary Hazy cornea Dilated pupil Decreased visual acuity Firm eyeball on palpation
What can be done in primary care for acute closed angle glaucoma?
Lie down
Pilocarpine eye drops (2% for blue, 4% for brown)
Give acetazolamide 500mg PO
Give analgesia and an antiemetic if required
How does pilocarpine act?
Acts on muscarinic receptors
Causes sphincter muscles in the iris to contract
Pupil constricts which allows aqueous humour to drain
What are the side effects of pilocarpine?
Headaches
Blurred vision
Constricted pupil
What does miotic mean?
Constricts the pupil
What is the management of acute closed angle glaucoma in secondary care?
Pilocarpine Acetazolamide Hyperosmotic agents - glycerol/mannitol Timolol Dorzolamide Brimonidine
What is the definitive treatment of acute closed angle glaucoma?
Laser iridotomy
What is anterior uveitis?
inflammation in the anterior part of the uvea
What conditions are associated with acute anterior uveitis?
HLA B27
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
Reactive arthritis
What conditions are associated with chronic anterior uveitis?
• Sarcoidosis • Syphilis • Lyme disease • Tuberculosis Herpes virus
How does anterior uveitis present?
Painful red eye Reduced visiual acuity Floaters and flashes Miosis Photophobia (ciliary muscle spasm) Pain on eye movement Lacrimation Abnormally shaped pupil Hypopyon