Opthalmology Flashcards
Afferent Defect of Pupils
No direct response but intact consensual response
Cannot initiate consensual response in contralateral eye.
Dilatation on moving light from normal to abnormal eye
Total CN2 Lesion
Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect
Features
- minor constriction to direct light
- dilated on moving light from normal to abn eye
- marcus gunn pupil
Causes
- optic neuritis
- optic atrophy
- retinal disease
Efferent Defect
Dilated Pupil does not react to light
- initial consensual response in contralateral pupil
- opthalmoplegia + ptosis
Cause
3rd nerve palsy
The pupil is often spared in a vascular lesion (e.g.
DM) as pupillary fibres run in the periphery.
DDx of fixed dilated pupil
Mydriatics (tropicamide etc)
Iris trauma
Acute glaucoma
CN3 compression (tumour, coning)
Holmes-Adie Pupil
Features
Young woman sudden blurring of near vision
Initially unilateral and then bilateral pupil dilatation
Dilated pupil has no response to light + sluggish
response to accommodation.
A “tonic” pupil
Ix
Iris shows spontaneous wormy movements on slit-lamp
examination (Iris streaming)
Cause - damage to postganglionic parasympathetic fibres
idiopathic - may have viral origin
Holmes Adie syndrome
Tonic Pupil
absent knee/ankle jerks
low blood pressure
Horner Syndrome
PEAS Ptosis Enopthalmos Anhydrosis Small pupil
Causes
- Central - MS, Wallenberg’s Lateral Medullary Syndrome
- Pre-ganglionic (neck)
Pancoast’s tumour: T1 nerve root lesion
Trauma: CVA insertion or CEA
Post-ganglionic
Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Usually 2ndary to spreading facial infection via the ophthalmic veins
CN 3, 4, 5, 6 palsies
Argyll Robertson Pupil
Features
- small, irregular pupils
- accommodate but doesn’t react to light
- atrophied + depigmented iris
Cause
- DM
- Quaternary syphilis
Optic atrophy/neuropathy
Features
↓ acuity ↓colour vision (esp. red) Central scotoma Pale optic disc RAPD
Optic Atrophy/neuropathy
Causes
CAC VISION
- commonest MS + glaucoma
Congenital Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy HMSN / CMT Friedrich’s ataxia DIDMOAD Retinitis pigmentosa
Alcohol + other toxins
Ethambutol
Lead
B12 deficiency
Compression
Neoplasia: optic glioma, pituitary adenoma
Glaucoma
Paget’s
Vascular: DM, GCA or thromboembolic
Inflammatory: optic neuritis –MS, Devic’s, DM
Sarcoid / other granulomatous
Infection: herpes zoster, TB, syphilis
Oedema: papilloedema
Neoplastic infiltration: lymphoma, leukaemia
Red eye History
Vision
- blurred
- distorted
- diplopia
- field defect/scotoma
- floaters, flashes
Sensation
- irritation
- pain
- itching
- photophobia
- FB
Appearance
- red ?distribution
- lump
- puffy lids
Red eye key examination questions
Inspect from anterior to posterior
is acuity affected?
is the globe painful?
Pupil size + reactivity
Cornea - intact, cloudy? Use fluorescein
Sign of serious disease
Photophobia
Poor vision
Corneal fluorescein staining
Abnormal pupil
Acute closed angle glaucoma
Blocked drainage of aqueous from anterior chamber via canal of schlemm
Pupil dilatation worsens with blockage)
IOP rises from 15-20 to over 60mmHg
Acute closed angle glaucoma
RF
Hypermetropia - long sitedness Shallow ant. chamber Female FH ↑age
Drugs Anti-cholinergics Sympathomimetics TCAs Anti-histamines
Acute closed angle glaucoma
Sx
O/E
Ix
Sx
- prodrome - rainbow haloes around lights at night
- severe pain w n/v
- decrease acuity + blurred vision
O/E
- Cloudy cornea w circumcorneal infection
- Fixed dilated irregular pupils
- ^IOP - eye feels hard
Ix
- Tonometry (^^IOP - usually 40+)
Acute closed angle glaucoma
Acute Mx
subsequent Mx
Acute Mx - refer to cardiologist
Pilocarpine 2-4% drops stat: miosis opens blockage
Topical β-B (e.g. timolol): ↓ aqueous formation
Acetazolamide 500mg IV stat: ↓ aqueous formation
Analgesia and antiemetics
Subsequent Mx
- Bilateral YAG peripheral iridotomy once IOP decreses medically
YAG is Yttrium-Aluminum Garnet
Anterior Uveitis/Acute Iritis
Uvea is pigmented part of eye and included: iris, ciliary
body and choroid.
Iris + ciliary body = anterior uvea
Iris inflammation involves ciliary body too.
Sx
- acute pain + photophobia
- blurred vision
Anterior Uveitis/Acute Iritis
O/E
Small pupil initially, irregular later Circumcorneal injection Hypopyon: pus in anterior chamber White (keratic) precipitates on back of cornea Talbots test: ↑pain on convergence
Anterior uveitis/acute iritis Associations
Seronegative arthritis: AS, psoriatic, Reiter’s
Still’s / JIA
IBD
Sarcoidosis
Behcet’s
Infections: TB, leprosy, syphilis, HSV, CMV, toxo
Anterior uveitis/acute iritis
Mx
Refer to ophthalmologist
Prednisolone drops
Cyclopentolate drops: dilates pupil and prevents
adhesions between iris and lens (synechiae)
Episcleritis
inflammation below conjunctiva in episclera
Presents
Localised reddening: can be moved over sclera
Painless / mild discomfort
Acuity preserved
Causes
Usually idiopathic
May complicate RA or SLE
Rx: Topical or systemic NSAIDs
Scleritis
vasculitis of sclera
Presents
- severe pain, worse on eye movement
- generalised scleral inflammation (vessels won’t move over sclera)
- conjunctival oedema (chemosis
Causes
- Wegener’s
- RA
- SLE
- Vasculitis
Mx
- refer to specialist
- most need corticosteroids or immunosuppressants
Complications - scleromalacia (thinning) > globe perforation
Conjunctivitis Presents
- Often bilateral ¯c purulent discharge
Bacterial: sticky (staph, strep, Haemophilus)
Viral: watery
Discomfort
Conjunctival injection
Vessels may be moved over the sclera
Acuity, pupil responses and cornea are unaffected.
Conjunctivitis Causes/Rx
Causes
Viral: adenovirus
Bacterial: staphs, chlamydia, gonococcus
Allergic
Rx
Bacterial: chloramphenicol 0.5% ointment
Allergic: anti-histamine drops: e.g. emedastine
Corneal Abrasion
Epithelial breech w/o keratitis
Cause: trauma
Symptoms
Pain
Photophobia
Blurred vision
Ix
Slit lamp: fluorescein stains defect green
Rx
Chloramphenicol ointment for infection prophylaxis
Corneal Ulcer + Keratitis (Causes)
Causes: bacterial, herpetic, fungal, protozoa, vasculitic (RA)
Dendritic ulcer = Herpes simplex
Acanthamoeba: protazoal infection affecting contact
lens wearers swimming in pools.
Corneal Ulcer + Keratitis (Presentation + RF)
Pain photophobia
Conjunctival hyperaemia (XS blood vessels)
decreased acuity
white corneal opacity
RF - contact lense wearers
Corneal Ulcer + Keratitis (Ix + Rx + complications)
Ix - green w fluorescin on slit lamp
Rx - refer immediately to specialist
Take smears and cultures
Abx drops, oral/topical aciclovir
Cycloplegics/mydriatics ease photophobia
Steroids may worsen symptoms: professionals only
Complications
- scarring + visual loss
Opthalmic Shingles
Pain in CNV1 dermatome precedes blistering rash
40% → keratitis, iritis
Hutchinson’s sign
Nose-tip zoster due to involvement of nasociliary
branch.
↑ chance of globe involvement as nasociliarry
nerve also supplies globe
Opthalmic involvement
- Keratitis + corneal ulceration (fluorescin stains)
- +/- iritis
Sudden Loss of vision
Key Questions
Headache associated: GCA
Eye movements hurt: optic neuritis
Lights / flashes preceding visual loss: detached retina
Like curtain descending: TIA, GCA
Poorly controlled DM: vitreous bleed from new vessels
Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy (AION)
optic nerve damaged if posterior cilliary arteries blocked (inflammation or atheroma)
Pale swollen optic disc
Causes
- Arteritic AION - giant cell arteritis
- Non-arteritic AION - HTN, DM, hyperlipidaemia, smoking
Optic neuritis
Sx + Signs
Sx - unilateral loss of acuity over hrs - days
- ↓ colour discrimination (dyschromatopsia)
- eye movements may hurt
Signs ↓ acuity ↓ colour vision Enlarged blind-spot Optic disc may be: normal, swollen, blurred Afferent defect
Optic neuritis
Causes + Rx
Causes Multiple sclerosis (45-80% over 15yrs) DM Drugs: ethambutol, chloamphenicol Vitamin deficiency Infection: zoster, Lyme disease
Rx
High-dose methyl-pred IV for 72h
Then oral pred for 11/7
Vitreous Haemorrhage
Source
New vessels: DM
Retinal tears / detachment / trauma
Presentation
Small bleeds → small black dots / ring floaters
Large bleed can obscure vision → no red reflex, retina
can’t be visualised
Ix
May use B scan US to identify cause
Mx
VH undergoes spontaneous absorption
Vitrectomy may be performed in dense VH
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Presents
- Dramatic unilateral vision loss in seconds
- Afferent pupil defect (may precede retinal changes)
- Pale retina w cherry-red macula
Causes
- GCA
- Thromboembolism: clot, infective, tumour
Rx - if seen w/i 6h aim is to ^retinal blood flow by decreasing IOP >occular massage > Surgical removal of aqueous > antihypertensives (local + systemic)
Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
Commoner than arterial occlusion
Causes: arteriosclerosis, ↑BP, DM, polycythaemia
Pres: sudden unilat visual loss w RAPD (relative afferent pupillary defect)
Fundus: Stormy Sunset Appearance
Tortuous dilated vessels
Haemorrhages
Cotton wool spots
Complications
Glaucoma
Neovascularisation
Prognosis: possible improvement for 6mo-1yr
Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion
Presents - unilateral visual loss
Fundus - segmental fundal changes
Comps - retinal ischaemia > VEGF release + neovascularisation
Rx - laser photocoagulation
Retinal Detachment
Holes/tears in retina allow fluid to separate sensory retina from retinal pigmented epithelium
May be 2ndary to cataract surgery, trauma, DM
Presentation 4 Fs - Floaters - numerous acute onset spider web - Flashes - Field loss - Fall in acuity painless
Fundus - grey, opalescent retina, ballooning forwards
Retinal detachment Rx
Urgent surgery
Vitrectomy + gas tamponade w laser coagulation to secure retina
Causes of transient visual loss
Vascular: TIA, migraine
MS
Subacute glaucoma
Papilloedema
Gradual Visual Loss
Causes
Common Diabetic retinopathy ARMD Cataracts Open-angle Glaucoma
Rarer
Genetic retinal disease: retinitis pigmentosa
Hypertension
Optic atrophy
Age Related Macular Degeneration
Commonest cause of blindness 60+
RF - smoking, age, genetics
Presentation - elderly, central visual loss
Dry and Wet
Ix Optical Coherence Tomography
- high resolution images of retina
Dry AMD
Geographic Atrophy
Drusen - fluffy white spots around macula
Degeneration of macula
Slow visual decline over 1-2 years
Wet AMD
Subretinal Neovascularisation
Abberrant vessels grow into retina from choroid + haemorrhage
Rapid visual decline (sudden/days/weeks) w distortion
Fundoscopy - macular haemorrhage > scarring
Amsler grid detects distortion
Mx of Wet AMD
Photodynamic therapy
Intravitreal VEGF inhibitor
- Bevacizumab (Avastin)
- Ranibizumab (Lucentis)
Antioxidant vitamins (C,E) + zinc may help early AMD