Conditions and Their Symptoms

Question 1

What are the symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis?

Answer 1

Redness (worse in fornices)
Pain and itching
Foreign body sensation
Lots of discharge (lids stuck in morning)

(Vision normal)

Question 2

What are the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis?

Answer 2

Redness (worse in fornices)
Uncomfortable and VERY itchy
stringy white discharge(chemosis)

(Vision normal)

Question 3

What are the symptoms of adenovirus conjunctivitis?

Answer 3

Redness (*worse in inner canthus)
Painful and itchy
Foreign body sensation
Lots of discharge (lids stuck in the morning)
*Vision can be blurred

Question 4

What are the symptoms of a dendritic (viral) ulcer?

Answer 4

Redness (worse in limbus and @ ulcer)
*Rarely painful
*Foreign body sensation
Variable discharge
Vision dependent on ulcer location

(FACT: and example causative agent is herpes simplex after long term steroids!)

Question 5

What are the symptoms of a bacterial ulcer?

Answer 5

Redness (worse in limbus and @ ulcer)
Can be very painful
Variable discharge (can be marked)
Vision dependent on ulcer location

Question 6

What are the symptoms of a allergic (marginal) ulcer?

Answer 6

Redness (marked around ulcer)
Mildly painful
Variable discharge
*Vision usually normal

Question 7

What are the symptoms of iritis (or uveitis)?

Answer 7

Redness (worse in limbus and cornea)

• No discharge
• Photophobia
• Vision can be blurry

Question 8

What are the symptoms of acute glaucoma?

Answer 8

Redness (worse in limbus)

• Deep INTENSE pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Very poor vision

Question 9

What are the symptoms of a migraine aura?

Answer 9

Scintillating to profound visual loss
15 mins duration
No trace at end

(FACT: Basilar artery spasm causes reduced blood flow and shunting to areas of importance; this may spill over to visual area giving a migraine aura!)

Question 10

What are the symptoms of central retinal artery occlusion?

Answer 10

Profound visual loss (constricted field)
Permanent unless treatment sought!

OPTHALMIC EMERGENCY!

Question 11

What are the symptoms of central retinal vein occlusion?

Answer 11

Mild to severe visual loss
Gradual onset
Permanent if not treated

(FACT: problems arise when ischaemia occurs!)

Question 12

What are the symptoms of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy?

Answer 12

Sudden severe loss of vision
*Affected area usually altitudinal (top/bottom)
Permanent

(FACT: Results from loss of blood supply to watershed zone of optic nerve. Causes to consider include giant cell arteritis and vascular risk factors combined with a ‘crowded disk’ in young diabetics and arteriopaths)

Question 13

What are the symptoms of optic neuritis?

Answer 13

Blurring of vision
Central scomatoma
Some pain of eye movement initially
Occurs over weeks
*Gradual and vague onset
*Desaturisation of colours

(FACT: Consider MS!)

Question 14

What are the symptoms of vitreous haemorrhage?

Answer 14

*Cobwebs and floaters initially
Followed by profound visual loss
Various onset, days to months

Question 15

What are the symptoms of a amaurosis fugax?

Answer 15

*Curtain crossing vision
*Over minutes
Returns to normal after event

(FACT: Various causes, consider investigated embolic [carotids in particular], haemodynamic, ocular and neurological)

Question 16

What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?

Answer 16

Flashes of light and floaters
Followed by 'curtain' over vision
(*can occur years apart!)
Visual loss corresponds to detachment site
Permanent if not repaired