Red Eye Flashcards
Where can you see redness?
Eyelids Conjunctiva/Episclera/Sclera Third Eyelid Cornea Anterior Chamber Anterior Uvea Posterior Uvea and Retina (Uvea includes iris[mesh of blood vessels], ciliary body and choroid) Retrobulbar Area
What is the conjunctiva?
The mucus membrane lining of the eyelid, third eyelid and sclera.
What other structures does the conjunctiva contain?
Epithelial cells
Mucus cells
Lymphoid tissue
Blood vessels
What do the conjunctival blood vessels look like?
Dichotomous branching (like a tree) Very sensitive to surface irritation
What is the episclera?
Connective tissue under conjunctiva that goes up to the limbus
What do the episcleral blood vessels look like?
They are large, thick and meander and do not have any branching.
What do episcleral blood vessels indicate?
Intraocular disease (glaucoma or uveitis) Severe/Chronic surface irritation
What is the sclera known as?
The true white of the eye
What is the sclera?
It is a fibrous tunic, continuous with the cornea via the limbus.
It contains collagen fibres and fibroblasts and emisaria(holes for bvs and nerves)
What layers make up the cornea?
Epithelium
Stroma
Posterior Lining Membrane
Endothelium
Which layer of the cornea takes up stain (fluorescin)?
Stroma
What is the epithelium of the cornea?
It is a physical barrier that is hydrophobic and when healthy does not have blood vessels. It contains nerves that are tiny and unmyelinated
What is the stroma of the cornea?
Is hydrophillic and is in a relatively dehydrated state
Stromal overhydration is called…?
Corneal Oedma
What inflammation/infectious causes can make the retrobulbar area red?
stick injuries middle ear abscess conjunctival FBs blunt trauma parasitic diseases general circulation - haematogenous spread
