IPA Exam 2 Flashcards
(169 cards)
What are refractive errors?
The most common cause of blurred vision, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing directly on the retina.
Define myopia.
Nearsightedness; difficulty seeing distant objects clearly because light focuses in front of the retina.
Myopia is characterized by clear near vision and blurry distant vision.
What does HYPER-opia stand for?
Farsightedness; difficulty seeing near objects clearly because light focuses behind the retina.
Hyperopia means ‘high vision’ indicating that far vision is better.
What is astigmatism?
Blurred vision at all distances due to light not being uniformly focused, often caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.
Astigmatism can cause distortion in vision.
What is presbyopia?
Age-related decline in near vision due to decreased lens flexibility, typically occurring after age 40.
Presbyopia affects the ability to focus on close objects.
What is amaurosis fugax?
Transient vision loss in one or both eyes due to inadequate blood flow to the retina, usually lasting up to 3 minutes.
It is often described as a momentary blackout.
Describe open-angle glaucoma.
Characterized by gradual peripheral vision loss and is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the United States.
Examination reveals optic disc pallor and an enlarged optic cup.
What are the symptoms of narrow-angle glaucoma?
Pain, seeing halos, and poor vision due to intermittent obstruction of aqueous humor drainage.
Untreated narrow-angle glaucoma can lead to total blindness.
Define age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
A leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
AMD affects the central part of the retina, leading to a loss of central vision.
What are retinal tears and detachments?
Conditions that can lead to vision reduction and a shadow or curtain in the peripheral vision.
These conditions require urgent medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.
What is amblyopia?
Loss of visual acuity in childhood due to strabismus, where the eyes are misaligned.
Amblyopia is reversible until around age 7.
What are cataracts?
Opacification of the lens, most commonly due to aging, leading to slow, gradual vision loss.
Cataracts can significantly affect vision clarity.
What is scotoma?
A blind spot that can be physiologic or pathologic, with pathologic scotomata detectable on visual field testing.
Scotomas may result from primary ocular disease or CNS lesions.
Explain tunnel vision.
Loss of peripheral vision while retaining central vision.
Tunnel vision can occur in advanced glaucoma.
What is diplopia?
Seeing double; can be caused by conditions affecting the extraocular muscles or nerves.
Strabismus can lead to diplopia, confusion, and subsequently amblyopia.
What are floaters and flashes?
Visual disturbances that can indicate retinal tears, potentially progressing to detachments if untreated.
Patients often describe these as small dots or streaks in their vision.
Define corneal abrasion.
Pain, photophobia, and blurred vision due to a scratch on the cornea, usually caused by trauma.
Fluorescein staining reveals defects in the corneal epithelium.
What is acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Sudden onset of severe eye pain, headache, nausea, and blurred vision, often with a sluggish, mid-dilated pupil.
This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
What is iritis or iridocyclitis?
Inflammation of the iris, causing severe pain, photophobia, tearing, decreased vision, and circumcorneal congestion.
Ciliary flush is characterized by injection of deep episcleral vessels.
What is a stye?
Localized abscess in an eyelash follicle caused by a staphylococcal infection, presenting as a painful, red bump.
Also known as an acute external hordeolum.
What is conjunctivitis?
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the inner eyelid and covering the white part of the eye.
It is the most common eye disease in the Western Hemisphere.
What are the common symptoms of nasal disease?
Obstruction, nasal discharge, epistaxis (nosebleeds) and loss of smell (anosmia).
These symptoms can be caused by various conditions including infections and allergies.
What is rhinitis?
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which can be triggered by allergens or other factors.
Symptoms may include nasal obstruction and discharge.
What are the types of nasal discharge?
- Thin and watery: Viral infection or allergies
- Thick and purulent: Bacterial infection
- Bloody: Neoplasm, trauma, or infection
- Foul-smelling: Foreign bodies or chronic sinusitis
- Clear watery: Suggests cerebrospinal fluid leakage
The characteristics of nasal discharge can help in diagnosing the underlying condition.