Retina and Vitreous Flashcards
Revise diagram
Retina
The retina can be thought of as a direct extension of the brain. It is the out-sprouting of the optic nerve that reacts to light stimuli.
List the 3 main types of retinal neurons
- Photoreceptors
- Bipolar cells
- Ganglion cells
Dimensions of the retina
- Thinner temporally
- Surface area of 1250mm2
- Internally bound by vitreous
- Externally bound by Bruch’s membrane of the choroid
- Anteriorly continues with the outer pigmented choroidal epithelium (at the ora serrata)
Blood supply to the retina
Blood retinal barrier
- Inner blood retinal barrier : tight endothelial junctions of retinal vessels
- Outer blood retinal barrier: zonnulea occulodentes (Latin for tight junctions) of RPE
Retinal surface
Macula
- 1.5mm
- It has greater >1 ganglion cell layers compared to the peripheral retina which only has 1
Foveal avascular zone
- 0.5mm
- Avascular and depends on supply from the choriocapillaris via diffusion
Foveola
- Fovea centralis (foveola) : 0.35mm
- No rods but the maximum concentration of cones
What is the blind spot?
The blind spot is at the optic disc (contains no photoreceptors) and is 1.8mm2
2 principal components of the retinal structure
- The inner neurosensory retina
- The outer retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
Revise image of OCT
Layers of the Neurosensory retina
- Internal limiting membrane
- Nerve fiber (contains ganglion cell axons)
- Ganglion cell layer (contains cell bodies of ganglion cells)
- Inner plexiform
- Inner nuclear (contains cell bodies of glial cells and bipolar cells)
- Outer plexiform
- Outer nuclear (contains cell bodies of photoreceptors)
- External limiting membrane
- Photoreceptors
RPE
- The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lies outer to the photoreceptors
- A single layer of cuboidal epithelium which maintains the photoreceptors
- Bruch’s membrane of the choroid lies outer to the retinal pigment epithelium
How many layers total does the retina have?
- The neurosensory retina has 9 layers.
- The RPE is 1 layer.
In total, the retina is considered to have 10 layers.
2 main types of photoreceptors
Rods and cones.
Cones also come in 3 further subtypes
Compare rods vs cones
Ratio of rods: cones is 20:1
Retinal neuromodulator cells
- These cells modulate action potentials
- Horizontal cells : between photoreceptor and bipolar cells
- Amacrine cells : between bipolar and ganglion cells
Ratio of photoreceptors to RPE cells
Ratio of photoreceptors to RPE cells is 45:1
Vitreous
The vitreous is a viscoelastic gel that fills the vitreous chamber - a 4ml cavity that forms the body of the eye. It is adherent to the retina and the ora serrata.
- This gel is composed mainly of water, but also contains hyaluronic acid and type II collagen
- It is connected to the internal limiting membrane of the retina by the collagen fibrils
What effect does age have on the vitreous
- The vitreous gel progressively becomes runnier with age.
- This is called syneresis and leads to small pools of fluid within the gel.
- Syneresis can lead to posterior vitreous detachment from the retina.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. The cause of visual impairment in patients with diabetic retinopathy is often due to diabetic macular oedema.
Pathology of Diabetic Retinopathy
The fundamental pathomechanism is: Hyperglycemia → damage to endothelial wall and pericytes
This process has several important effects:
- Pericyte damage → microaneurysms → flame haemorrhages (nerve fibre layer)
- Infarcts → cotton wool spots (axonal debris at infarct margins) (nerve fibre layer)
- Increased vessel permeability → Hard exudates (lipoproteins in outer plexiform layer)
- Cystoid macular oedema (outer plexiform layer)
- Neovascularization
Most important risk factor for progression of diabetic retinopathy
The most important risk factor for the progression of diabetic retinopathy is the duration of diabetes
Presentation of DR
Most cases are picked up with diabetic screening but there are 3 associated presentations to be aware of:
- Acute painful vision loss: Neovascular Glaucoma
- Flashes/Floaters then painless vision loss: Vitreous haemorrhage or retinal detachment
- Gradual vision loss: Retinopathy or macular oedema or cataract
Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy
Background retinopathy. Note the microaneurysms.
Proliferative retinopathy. Note the proliferation of the vasculature and the multiple haemorrhages.
Management of Diabetic Retinopathy
The management options are chosen based on risk classification
- Non-proliferative → Monitoring
- Proliferative → Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) of the retina
- Clinically significant maculopathy (including oedema) → Macular grid laser
- Diabetic macular oedema → Anti-VEGF or OZURDEX® (steroid implant)
If the patient also has cataracts, treat diabetic complications before cataracts are addressed
Hypertensive Retinopathy
Chronic hypertension causes endothelial damage → atherosclerosis → constriction of retinal vessels → retinopathy.
Stages of hypertensive retinopathy
- Arteriolar narrowing
- AV nipping OR silver wiring
- Flame haemorrhages OR cotton wool spots
- Disc swelling OR hard exudates OR retinal oedema
AV nipping and arteriolar narrowing can be seen in this fundus photograph of a patient with hypertension.
Management of Hypertensive Retinopathy
- Treatment is focused on targeting systemic hypertension.
- Patients with papilloedema and malignant hypertension need emergency assessment
Compare CRAO vs BRAO
Compare CRVO vs BRVO
Retinal Artery occlusion
A fundus photograph of a patient with CRAO. Note the pale retina and the cherry-red spot.
Retinal Vein Occlusion
A fundus photograph of a patient with branch retinal vein occlusion.
Retinal Vein Occulusion
Ocular Ischemic Syndrome
Angina of the eye caused by severe carotid obstruction
Pathology of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome
- Most commonly caused by atherosclerosis.
- As with other causes of ocular ischemia, this can lead to neovascularization of intraocular structures such as the retina and iris.
Presentation of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome
- The patient is typically an elderly male with a history of vascular risk factors such as diabetes, smoking and hypertension
- Painful gradual reduction in vision with episodes of transient vision loss (amaurosis fugax) and orbital aching pain
Investigations for Ocular Ischemic Syndrome
Examination might show flare in the anterior chamber
Treatment of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome
Focused on relieving the carotid obstruction by stenting or endarterectomy
Sickle Cell Retinopathy
More prevalent in patients of Afro-Caribbean origin. Different mutations of Hb determine the severity of disease. HbSS is associated with the worst systemic disease and HbSC is associated with the worst ocular disease
Pathology of Sickle Cell Retinopathy
- Sickling of cells leads to occlusion and ischemia. This can subsequently lead to proliferative changes and neovascularization.
- Severity of disease is determined by mutation, from mild to severe: HbSC → HbSTHal → HbSS
2 Types of Sickle Cell Retinopathy
Compare presentation of each
Nonproliferative: Salmon patches (intraretinal haemorrhages and black sunbursts (RPE hyperplasia)
Proliferative: sea fan neovascularization, vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment
Classification system for proliferative sickle cell retinopathy
Goldberg classification
Management of Sickle Cell Retinopathy
Scatter laser photocoagulation can be used in severe sickle cell retinopathy
Compare Eales vs Coats Disease
These are 2 distinct retinal vascular diseases of unknown aetiology. They are frequently compared in exams.
What part of the visual field is the macula responsible for?
Central part of the visual field
Diseases of the macula characteristically present with reduced central vision
What is the commonest cause of blindness in the elderly (in developed countries)
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
What is AMD
The disease is limited to the macula and characterised by the presence of drusen.
Risk factors for AMD
Caucasian, female, elderly, smoking/hypertension
List 2 important genetic associations with AMD
CFH and ARMS2
Pathology of Dry AMD
- Atrophy of RPE → accumulation of drusen between the RPE and Bruch’s membrane of the choroid.
- Progression leads to geographic atrophy, which are large areas of visible choroid under the RPE.
Pathology of Wet AMD
- Growth of choroidal vessels into the RPE (choroidal neovascularization).
- Progression leads to disciform macular degeneration (subretinal fibrosis).
Pathology of Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV)
- A variant of Wet AMD
- It is commoner in Asians
- Unilateral polypoidal dilation of choroidal vessels progressing to subretinal haemorrhages
Most common cause of choroidal neovascularization
Wet AMD is the commonest cause of choroidal neovascularization. It is driven by retinal hypoxia.
In the case of wet AMD, it is caused by the build of drusen.
Presentation of wet vs dry AMD
Dry: Gradual central scotoma + gradually decreased visual acuity + drusen + metamorphopsia
Wet: Sudden central scotoma + neovascularization
Fundus photograph of a patient with AMD. Note the widespread drusen.
Investigations for AMD
- OCT is used to detect drusen and areas of atrophy.
- Geographic atrophy is best seen on fundus autofluorescence (FAF).
- Amsler grid can be used by patients to self monitor their vision
- Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is used to assess wet AMD. OCT is also central to the diagnosis and monitoring of wet AMD.
- FFA will show neovascularization and OCT will show subretinal fluid.
- Indocyanine green angiography (ICG) is used to diagnose PCV, based on characteristic polypoidal dilation of choroidal vessels.
How is PCV specifically diagnosed
ICG is used to diagnose PCV because it is much better at imaging choroidal vessels compared to FFA because ICG is more closely bound to albumin and does not leak as much whilst passing through the choroidal vessels.
Management of AMD
- Dry → AREDS2 diet (Vit C and E + Lutein + Zeaxanthin + Zinc)
- Wet → Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections
- Photodynamic therapy also plays a role in the management of wet AMD
What is Cystoid Macular Oedema (CMO)
This intraretinal oedema is s result of ocular inflammation, commonly in the post-cataract surgery phase.
It can also occur in other vascular and inflammatory disorders of the eye including diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa and latanoprost use.