Common Conditions of the Eye

Question 1

What are the functions of the tear film?

Answer 1

Keeps cornea moist and prevents drying
Washes away particulate foreign bodies
Has antibodies and lysozymes to kill microbes
Smooths outer surface of cornea providing smooth surface for refraction

Question 2

What stain is used to see the tear film?

Answer 2

Fluoroescein

Question 3

What are the three layers of the tear film?

Answer 3

Inner mucinous layer
Middle aqueous layer
Outer oily layer

Question 4

How does the endothelial cell layer help to maintain the transparency of the cornea?

Answer 4

Endothelial cell layer pump keeps the aqueous humor out of the cornea

Question 5

What is the lens and how is it held in place?

Answer 5

Lens is a transparent, crystalline biconvex structure which is suspended by zonules from the ciliary body

Question 6

For the lens to be transparent, it needs to be

Answer 6

avascular

Question 7

Lens opacification is known as

Answer 7

cataract

Question 8

What is the aqueous humor?

Answer 8

Watery fluid anterior to the lens which helps to maintain intraocular pressure

Question 9

What is the function of the aqueous humor?

Answer 9

Nourishes the lens and cornea

Question 10

What produces the aqueous humor?

Answer 10

Ciliary body

Question 11

The aqueous humor flows out through the pupil to the

Answer 11

anterior chamber

Question 12

The aqueous humor is filtered out through the

Answer 12

trabecular meshwork

Question 13

How are cataracts treated?

Answer 13

Surgery to open the lens capsule and remove cataract lens by emulsification, lens implant after surgery

Question 14

How is primary open angle glaucoma treated?

Answer 14

Eye drops to decrease IOP
Laser trabeculoplasty
Trabeculectomy surgery

Question 15

What is the aim of acute angle closure glaucoma treatment?

Answer 15

To decrease IOP

Question 16

What are the treatments of acute angle closure glaucoma?

Answer 16

IV infusion +/- oral therapy 
Analgesics 
Antiemetics 
Constrictor eye drops 
Beta-blocker drops (if no contraindications)
Steroid eye drops 
Iridotomy

Question 17

How are corneal ulcers treated?

Answer 17

Aggressively with anti-fungal/viral/bacterial

Question 18

How is lattice corneal dystrophy treated?

Answer 18

Symptoms management

Corneal transplant in late stages

Question 19

How is Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy treated?

Answer 19

Symptoms management, corneal transplant in late stages

Question 20

How is a stye/hordeolum treated?

Answer 20

Warm compress, eyelid hygiene

Surgical incision and curettage

Question 21

How is the avascularity of the cornea of benefit in corneal graft surgery?

Answer 21

Unlikely that foreign antigens from corneal graft will be recognised and rejected from the recipient’s antibodies, exact genetic/antigenic match not needed