optics Flashcards
how is light focused onto the fovea of the eye
what is cornea and lens power
- A clear view to the retina.
- The length of the eye.
- The power, measured in diopters (D), of the refractive components of the eye,
mainly the cornea (40D) and lens (20D).
what is axial length and when does it lengthen
eyeball is measured from the corneal surface to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/Bruch membrane.
first 3-6 months of life
Newborn: 16 mm
3 years: 22.5 mm
13 to 18 years (adult length): 24 mm
length from lens to retina in adults is
17mm
what is myopia & how can it be classified
principle focus of light lies before reaching the retina.
low (−6D).
myopia can be caused by
● Axial myopia: Large eyes (axial length >24 mm). Most common cause.
● Index myopia: High refractive power as seen in conditions such as
keratoconus or nuclear sclerotic cataract.
methods that may be helpful in slowing myopic progression
● Use of atropine (lower doses of atropine were more effective with fewer side effects than higher doses [1]) and pirenzepine drops.
● Outdoor activity: It is thought that too much near work may contribute in myopic progression (2).
● Bifocals and progressive lenses.
Mx for myopia
● Spherical concave lenses (glasses or contact lenses).
● Keratorefractive surgery: Uses laser to reshape the cornea and so changing
its refractive power. In myopia, the central corneal tissue is ablated, making the central cornea flatter. Common procedures used are photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), LASIK or LASEK.
Caution: Contact lens wearers should withhold wearing their lenses for at least 14 days for soft lenses and at least 1 month for rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses. Similarly, this precaution is used for hypermetropic surgery.
what is hypermetropia and its classification
the principle focus of light lies beyond the retina.
low (+5D)
hypermetropia can be caused by
● Small eyes (axial length <24 mm)
● Low refractive power: As seen in aphakic patients (absence of the lens) and
patients with flat corneas
ass of hypermetropia
esotropia
angle-closure glaucoma, retinoschisis
uveal effusion syndrome (nanophthalmos)
amblyopia in children.
Mx of hypermetropia
● Spherical convex lenses.
● Keratorefractive surgery: Procedures used are similar to those used in
myopia; however, the peripheral corneal tissue is ablated in hypermetropia resulting in a steeper central cornea.
what are spherical convex lenses
These are also called minus lenses, and they resemble two prisms placed base to base
how do spherical convex lenses work
They work by converging light and are used in managing hypermetropia by bringing the image formed behind the retina closer to land on the retina.
what are spherical concave lenses
These are also called plus lenses and they resemble two prisms placed apex to apex
how do spherical concave lenses work
They work by diverging light and are used in managing myopia by bringing the image formed in front of the retina further to land on the retina.
how do you calculate the power of lenses
The power of the lens is measured in diopters. It is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length (f) in metres:
Power = 1/f
what is astigmatism
refractive power of the eye is not the same in all meridians (directions) due to a change in the shape of the lens or cornea’s curvature, frequently described as ‘rugby ball-shaped’
image is formed as a Sturm’s Conoid
what is diurnal variations
in corneal shape, flattest in the morning, as a result of changes in eyelid pressure and muscle tension
what is regular astigmatism
The principle meridians, termed steepest and flattest meridians, are 90° from each other.
Further classified as:
With-the-rule astigmatism: Occurs when the vertical meridian
(90°) is the steepest. It is corrected with a plus cylinder lens between 60° and 120°.
Against-the-rule: Occurs when the horizontal meridian (180°) is the steepest. It is corrected with a plus cylinder lens between 150° and 30°. Oblique: Occurs when the principle meridians are neither at 90° nor 180°. It is corrected with a plus cylinder lens between 31° and 50° and 121°–149°.
what is irregular astigmatism
Principle meridians are not perpendicular to each other. Occurs in conditions such as keratoconus or corneal ulcers.
Mx of astigmatism
● Soft toric lenses: Combination of spherical and cylindrical lenses.
● RGP contact lenses are usually used for irregular astigmatism.
what are cylindrical lenses
contain a cylinder in a single plane surface
focus the length into a line rather than a point
one meridian only
what is transposition
converting a minus cylindrical lens to a plus cylindrical lens and vice versa.
where is transposition used
frequently used in toric lens prescriptions.
steps of transposing
● Step 1: Add the cylinder and sphere power; this becomes your new sphere power.
● Step 2: Change the sign of the cylinder.
● Step 3: Change the axis by 90°: If the axis is ≤90° then add 90°, but if it is
>90° then subtract 90°.
what is presbyopia
age-related loss of accommodative ability of the eye.
pathophysiology of presbyopia
increase in lens size and hardness, or due to ciliary muscle dysfunction
lens cannot thicken or flatten properly, and accommodative power is lost.
accommodative power at age
8
60
14D
<1D
when does presbyopia occur
40 years
what is amplitude of accommodation
maximum increase in diopter power the eye can achieve through accommodation.
● The near point of the eye is the closest point where the image remains clear.
● To achieve comfortable vision, at least 1/3 of the amplitude of accommodation should be kept in reserve.
what is esotropia
eviated nasally and moves temporally on cover testing to fixate.
what is exotropia
deviated temporally and moves nasally on cover testing to fixate.
what is the angle of deviation
an be measured objectively via prism cover testing.
how do you prescribe prism and where are they placed
they should be placed for both eyes with the power of prisms split evenly between the two eyes. The base of the prism should point away from the deviation. For example, the base is pointed temporally in an esotropic eye and the apex nasally.
what is hypermetropia
ye is deviated superiorly and moves inferiorly on cover testing to fixate.
what is hypotropia
where the eye is deviated inferiorly and moves superiorly on cover testing to fixate.
how should the prism places in hyper/hypotropia
split evenly between the two eyes. The base of the prism should be away from the deviation. Prisms should be pointing in opposite directions for both eyes. For example, for a right hypertropia, the right eye has the prism base down and the left eye has the prism base up.
how does a prism work
transparent medium bound by two planes that are at an angle to each other. They do not focus light. They bend light (refraction) towards the base of the prism. To an observer, a virtual image is formed that is erect and displaced towards the apex
what is snell’s law
when light moves from one transparent medium of higher density to another of lower density (e.g. water to air), the light refracts. This concept applies to the eyes and is the basis for lens manufacturing.
what is the angle of incidence
angle the light travels as it hits the boundary of another medium.
what is the angle of refraction
dependent on the angle of incidence and is the angle the light travels as it crosses the boundary.
as angle of incidence increases the angle of refractiom
gets closer to 90 degress
what is the critical angle
When the angle of refraction is equal to 90°, the angle of incidence
what is total internal reflection
angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle; the light will not pass through the medium, that is, it is completely reflected.
what instruments rely in total internal reflection
prisms and gonioscopy