Retinal Disease Flashcards
What are the two types of diabetic retinopathy and what is the difference between them?
No-proliferationg DR and proflierationg DR.
NPDR is the first stage and it is what 95% of diabetics have.
Proliferative occurs in the later stages and is more dangerous.
What are the early signs of retinal damage that can be seen in non-proliferative Diabetic retinopathy?
dod-and -blot haemorhages, these are micro aneurysms that have burst.
What signs can be seen in fundoscopy in the later stages of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
Cotton wool spots are common which are grey soft-edged spots which are ischaemia in the superficial retinal nerve fibres
What signs will be seen in advances proflierative diabetic retinopathy?
There are signs of neovascularisation including an increased in the number of visible vessels and a decrease n their quality.
What is the retinal vessels’ response to sustained occlusion and ischaemia?
Neovascularisation where VEGF is produced to promote angiogenesis. These vessels are weak and prone to bleeding. They also grow into the vitreous which means that terrine can become detached.
What is the most common mechanism for vision loss in diabetic patients?
macular oedema - this is where the blood vessels leak over into the macula and cause swelling. This reduces the ability of the macula to function
What are the treatment modalities in diabetic retinopathy?
Most treatment should be preventative but some patients may require surgery
What are the two main surgery options in diabetic retinopathy?
Laser treatment to seal off microanerysms by burning the retina.
Vitrectomy where all of the vitreous is removed and replaced with saline. This means that traction from vessels on the retina is fixed which stops retinal detachment and also removes anything in the vitreous which is obscuring vision
What is the definition of a retinal detachment?
Separation of the sensory layer of the retina from the retinal pigment layer and the choroid
What is the medical term for someone who is near-sighted?
myopic
What are the common risk factors for retinal detachment/
myopic eyes
traumatic sports like boxing and bungee jumping
cataracts operations
What are the three types of retinal detachment?
rhegmatogenous
traction detachment
Exudative detatchment
What is the mechanism for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
A tera of the retina which a full thickness break through the retinal sensory layer
vitreous flows behind the retina and pulls it away, this means it can spend and pull the whole retina away
What are The most common symptoms in retinal detachment?
Flashes of light and floaters.
How are retinal detachments diagnosed?
Indirected opthamoscope, which may show the retina floating about or Shafers sign which is like tobacco dust
