Retinal Disorders Flashcards
What instrument is used to examine the retina?
An ophthalmoscope
Can be direct or indirect
What is the purpose of biometry?
Calculates lens power
What is the purpose of perimetry?
Calculates the visual field
What is a fundus camera used for?
A fundus camera or retinal camera is a specialized low power microscope with an attached camera designed to photograph the interior surface of the eye, including the retina, retinal vasculature, optic disc, macula, and posterior pole (i.e. the fundus).
Which imaging modality allows the production of cross sectional images of the eye?
Optical coherence tomography
What is fluorescin angiography?
Fluorescent dye is injected into the bloodstream. The dye highlights the blood vessels in the back of the eye so they can be photographed.
What are the common conditions fluorescin angiography is used for?
Macular degeneration
Diabetic retinopathy
What are the risks associated with fluorescin angiography?
Nausea
Vomitting
Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
What are the ocntraindications of fluorescin angiography?
Poor kidney function
Pregnancy
What does electrophysiology determine?
It is a series of investigations recording electrical signals from the eye, optic nerve and brain in response to visual stimuli
What electrophysiology test measures retinal function?
Electroretinogram
How does an electroretinogram work?
Measures the electrical activity generated by neural and non-neuronal cells in the retina in response to a light stimulus
ERGs are obtained using electrodes embedded in a corneal contact lens, which measure a summation of retinal electrical activity at the corneal surface
What electrophysiology test measures RPE and photreceptors?
RPE is called the retinal pigment epithelia
Electro-oculogram
How is the arden ration derived in an electro-oculogram?
During dark adaptation, resting potential decreases slightly and reaches a minimum (“dark trough”) after several minutes. When light is switched on, a substantial increase of the resting potential occurs (“light peak”)
Arden ratio is light peak / dark trough and is usually 1.85
What test is used to record optic nerve function?
Visually evoked potentials
(Used to aid the diagnosis of MS)
How does visually evoked potentials work?
Measures electrical activity in the visual cortex in response to either a flashing light or a checker board pattern
What can visually evoked potentials be used to detect?
A tumor compressing the optic nerve, an ischemic disturbance, or a demyelinating disease
Although VEP is not a specific test so detailed history and MRI may be needed to uncover the aetiology
What are causes of sudden painless loss of vision?
- Central retinal vein occlusion
- Central retinal artery occlusion
- Ischaemic optic neuropathy
- Stroke
- Vitreous haemorrhage - (leakage, of blood into the areas in and around the vitreoushumor of the eye)
- Retinal detachment
- Sudden discovery of pre-exisiting unilateral LoV
What are common causes of central retinal vein occlusion?
Hypertension
Glaucoma
Hyperviscosity
Inflammation
The artery and the vein are in the same bundle – atherosclerosis in the artery causes occlusion in the vein
Lots of blood on fundoscopy means vein occlusion