Posterior Segment Flashcards
describe vitreous anatomy
- elastic hydrogel
- 99% water, 1% collagen fibrils and hyaluronic acid
- very few cells (hyalocytes)
describe vitreous morphology
- 75% of volume of eye
- some role in refraction
- attachments formed by condensation of fibrils
-located at ora ciliaris retinae (peripheral retinal border) and pars plana ciliaris (posterior ciliary body), posterior lens capsule, around optic nerve - supports lens anteriorly, retina posteriorly
describe vitreous developmental abnormalities
- persistent hyaloid artery- failure of hyaloid artery to regress, usually small dense white or reddish string of tissue extending posteriorly from lens, may or may not have cataract
- persistent tunica vasculosa lentis
-fine, white strands extending from posterior lens capsule, remnants of embryonic blood supply - persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis/persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous
-hereditary in dobermans, staffordshire terriers, sporadic in other breeds
-varies from small retrolentally located fibrovascular dots to malformation of lens and anterior vitreous
-posterior cataracts, fibrovascular plaque on posterior lens, lenticonus, vitreous, or intralenticular hemorrhage
describe vitreal degenerations
- syneresis: liquefaction of vitreous due to age or inflammation, may predispose to retinal detachment
- asteroid hyalosis: small white or pigmented particles consisting of calcium or phospholipids, move with eye movement
-usually incidental finding
-may be due to age or inflammation
-often appears sparkly or starry: small glistening particles in the vitreous body
-asteroid bodies: consist of calcium and phospholipids
-age-related changes with no impact on vision
list the layers of the fundus from outside to inside
- sclera
- choroid: has the vessels on top of the tissue paper of the neurosensory
- tapetum (+/-)
- RPE
- neurosensory retina (looks like tissue paper with some vessels on top)
describe retinal morphology
- potential space between RPE and photoreceptors
- axons from ganglion cells form optic nerve; exit at optic disk
- area centralis: temporal to disk; area of higher cone density, devoid of blood vessels, usually blood vessels branching around it
- in most domestic animals, predominantly rod based (less color differentiation)
- light transmitted by electrical impulse to optic nerve, to optic chiasm, through optic tracts, to lateral geniculate body of thalamus then optic radiations to occipital cortex
how do we test the retina and optic nerve?
vision:
1. behavioral: owner history, maze testing in light and dark, cotton ball tracking
2. menace: retina, optic nerve, optic radiations, visual cortex, then CN VII for blink
retina/optic nerve functionality:
1. PLR: retina, optic nerve, parasympathetic anteromedian nucleus, then CN III to iris
- dazzle reflex: withdrawal response, subcortical
how do we directly test retinal function?
electroretinogram (ERG): light stimulation results in electrical response; measures photoreceptor activity
-usually prior to cataract surgery and in cases of blindness especially with normal ophthalmic exam
-NOT a good test of whether part of retina is detached; as long as some is attached, will still fire a wave form, so combine with ultrasound before cataract surgery too!
describe ultrasonography to assess the retina
useful when cannot visualize posterior segment
-can diagnose retinal detachment, vitreal abnormalities, tumors
describe ophthalmoscopy to examine the fundus
fundus is all structures of the posterior segment
usually split up into
1. tapetal fundus
2. non-tapetal fundus
3. optic nerve head (optic disk)
4. vasculature
best views from indirect! direct is super up close
describe indirect versus direct ophthalmoscopy to examine the fundus
indirect:
-larger field of view, lower magnification
-mag depends on size of lens used (higher diopter = less mag)
-good for examine entire fundus
direct:
-smaller field of view, higher mag, upright image
-usually used for closer exam of lesions, inspection of optic nerve
describe systematic evaluation of the fundus
- blood vessels:
-attenuated: abnormally small
-large
-tortuous: squiggly - tapetal reflectivity:
-increased or decreased - retinal hemorrhage
- detachments
describe the tapetal fundus
- variably triangular, located in superior fundus (tapetal = top)
- cats: yellow to green
dogs: green, yellow, orange, blue - color of fundus related to coat color
-color dilute animals, especially merles, may lack tapetum - small dogs = small tapetum
-large dogs = large tapetum
describe the non-tapetal fundus
- largest area of fundus
- junction between tapetal/nontapetal area highly variable, can be a distinct demarcation to a hazy transition area
- tan to dark brown
- reduced pigment (albinotic or subalbinotic animals) allows choroidal vasculature to be seen
-choroidal vessels larger, straighter, brighter orange than retinal vessels
describe retinal vessel patterns
- holangiotic retina:
-dogs, cats, ruminants
-extensive/visible retinal vascular supply
-usually 3-4 major venules, variable number of arterioles
-arterioles smaller and lighter in color - paurangiotic retina:
-horses
-small retinal vessels extending only a short distance from optic disc
-usually 30-60 fine vessels radiating from disc
describe normal variations of the optic nerve head
- dogs:
-located in tapetum or non-tapetum, quite variable myelination
-variation in myelination causes variation in nerve shape
-round, oval, triangular, polygonal
-pinkish white to deep pink - cats:
-located in tapetum
-not myelinated
-circular, greyish color
-conus: peripapillar hyperreflectivity
what are the 2 subdivisions of generalized progressive retinal atrophy?
most are autosomal recessive! (hared to breed out); untreatable and will ultimately result in blindness
- photoreceptor dysplasia: severe structural alterations of rods before retina completely developed
-rate of progression and loss of cones varies
-clinical signs in first year of life
-irish setters, norweigian elkhounds, collies, mini schnauzers, belgian shepherds
-alaskan malamutes: cone degeneration (day blindness), retain night vision throughout life - photoreceptor degenerations:
-degen after normal differentiation
-usually slower and later onset of disease
describe the clinical signs of progressive retinal atrophy (photoreceptor dysplasia or degeneration) (6)
- similar clinically across different breeds
- bilateral and leads to blindness
- decreased night vision usually first sign (rods affected first)
- progressive decrease in PLR, but may be present even when dog clinically blind
- eyes widely dilated at rest
- cataract formation in very late stages
describe the fundic exam findings of progressive retinal atrophy
early: subtle altered tapetal reflectivity, usually peripherally, and mild vascular attenuation
moderate:
-increase in tapetal reflectivity and vascular attenuation
-slight decrease in pigmentation of nontapetal fundus
-decreased myelination of optic nerve head
-optic nerve head atrophy
advanced:
-marked hyperreflectivity
-decreased pigmentation of nontapetal fundus
-marked vascular attenuaiton
-pale, demyelinated optic disc
describe sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS)
- acute photoreceptor death
- usually middle aged dogs, females predisposed, all breeds affected
- clinical signs:
-often have weight gain
-polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia for weeks to months prior to vision loss (Cushing’s like signs)
-acute vision loss- often over 24 hours
-dilated pupils
-minimal PLR
-normal fundic exam
describe diagnosis and treatment of SARDS
diagnosis:
1. electroretinogram to confirm loss of photoreceptor function
2. may have elevated ALP or other Cushing’s like changes on bloodwork but RARELY positive for Cushing’s
treatment:
1. none; permanent blindness
2. fundus will develop opthalmoscopically visible signs of degeneration over time, similar to PRA
describe retinal dysplasia
- histopath findings:
-linear folding of sensory retina with formation of rosettes
-abnormal formation of full thickness areas of retina - may have involvement of other structures of eye
- visual deficits depend on severity
-mild cases: no clinical sign - causes:
-hereditary (most common)
-herpes
-vitamin A deficiency
-radiation
-trauma, toxins - usually autosomal recessive if inheritance defined
-common in labradors, springer spaniels, terriers, beagles, cocker spaniels