Pathology of the Eye Flashcards
What are the leading causes of blindess?
- Cataract
- Uncorrected refractive error
- Age-related macular generation
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Corneal opacities
What are the main risk factors for corneal ulcers?
- Contact Lenses
- Varicella/Herpes shingles type infection; long term It reduces the corneal sensitivity (less likely to notice something has happened to your eye)
- Steroid drop use
- Dry eyes/Exposure more vulnerable to infection
- Trauma/Burns
What is the long term impact of corneal ulcers?
corneal scarring
What is a cataract?
cloudiness of the lens
What are the main risk factors for cataracts?
- Age
- Diabetes
- Trauma
- Inflammation uveitis
- Steroid Use
- UV/Radiation
- Congenital
What are the major stats abour cataract surgery?
- Most commonly performed operation in the UK
- Most effective surgery in the UK
What are the three main types of cataract surgery?
- MSICS – Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery
- Phacoemulsification (most common)
- Femtosecond laser (experimental treatment)
What is an abnormal ‘red reflex’?
Anything obstructing the path of light from the front of the back of the eye
What are the main causes of an abnormal ‘red reflex’?
- Corneal scar
- Cataract
- Vitreous Haemorrhage
- Retinoblastoma
What is blindness in diabetic retinopathy due to?
- Growth of new vessels; vitreous haemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment and rubeotic glaucoma
- Leakage of fluid from damaged vessels; macular oedema with loss of central visual acuity
What are the main treatment options for diabetic retinopathy?
- Lifestyle
- Stop smoking
- Weight control
- Exercise
- Glycaemic control
- Blood pressure control
- Dyslipidaemia control
- Support renal function – ACE inhibitors
- Laser, anti-VEGF injections and surgery
What are the two main types of age related macular degeneration?
dry and wet
What are the main symptoms of AMD
- Progressive reduction in visual acuity
- Metamorphopsia may suggest wet AMD (distortion)
What are the main treatments of AMD
- Prevention (vitamin supplements), rehabilitation and anti-VEGF injections
What type of disc is present in glaucoma?
cupped disc
What are the main features of glaucoma?
- Optic neuropathy
- Characteristic visual field defect
- Most commonly associated with raised IOP
