TO DO OPHTHALMOLOGY Flashcards
(142 cards)
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA
what are the risk factors?
increased age
family history
black
myopia (nearsighted)
hypertension + CVD
diabetes mellitus
corticosteroid use
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA
what is the clinical presentation?
often presents insidiously + detected during routine eye exams
SYMPTOMS
- asymptomatic
- peripheral vision loss (progressive)
SIGNS
- raised intraocular pressure
- visual field defect (peripheral loss, leading to tunnel vision)
- decreased visual acuity
- open iridocorneal angle
- fundoscopic findings (optic disc cupping, bayonetting of vessels, cup notching, optic disc haemorrhages and disc haemorrhages)
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA
what are the investigations?
- standard automated perimetry (for visual field assessment)
- goldmann applanation tonometry (for intraocular pressure measurement)
- slit lamp (assess optic nerve health)
- gonioscopy (assess peripheral anterior chamber)
- central corneal thickness assessment
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA
what is the management?
1st line
- topical prostaglandin analogue (LATANOPROST) or prostamide (BIMATOPROST)
- topical beta-blocker (TIMOLOL)
2nd line
- switch to drug in other 1st line drug class
- combine topical prostaglandin analogue/prostamide with topical beta-blocker
- switch to/add in one of following drugs:
= topical sympathomimetic (BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE)
= topical carbonic anhydrase inihibitor (BRINZOLAMIDE)
= topical miotic (PILOCARPINE HYDROCHLORIDE)
refractory cases
- laser (selective laser trabeculoplasty)
- surgery (trabeculectomy)
GLAUCOMA MEDICATIONS
what are the side effects of prostaglandin analogue drops (e.g. latanoprost)?
- eyelash growth
- eyelid pigmentation
- iris pigmentation (browning)
ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA
which medications can precipitate it?
- Adrenergic medications (e.g., noradrenaline)
- Anticholinergic medications (e.g., oxybutynin and solifenacin)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), which have anticholinergic effects
ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA
what is the clinical presentation?
SYMPTOMS
- unilateral red, painful eye
- pain worse in the dark
- blurred vision
- haloes around lights
- headache (may be severe)
- nausea and vomiting
SIGNS
- hard, red eye
- fixed, dilated pupil
- corneal oedema (dull, hazy cornea)
- reduced visual acuity
ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA?
what is the initial management?
- lie patient flat
- analgesia + antiemetics
following may be given in combination:
- 1st line = carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (ACETAZOLAMIDE)
- topical beta-blocker (TIMOLOL)
- topical alpha-2-agonist (BRIMONIDINE)
- topical cholinergic (PILOCARPINE)
DEFINITIVE TREATMENT
- iridotomy
GLAUCOMA MEDICATIONS
how does miotics (e.g. pilocarpine) work?
- Pupil constriction
- pulls iris away from trabecular meshwork increasing drainage of aqueous humour
GLAUCOMA MEDICATIONS
how does carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g. acetazolamide) work?
decreases the production of aqueous humour.
ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA
what is the definitive treatment?
Laser iridotomy
This involves making a hole in the iris using a laser, which allows the aqueous humour to flow directly from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber.
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
what are the risk factors?
- increasing age
- smoking (doubles risk of developing ARMD)
- family history
- cardiovascular disease
- obesity
- poor diet (low in vitamin and high in fat)
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
what is dry age related macular degeneration?
also known as atrophic
is 85-90% of cases
characterised by drusen
progresses slowly over decades
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
what is wet age related macular degeneration?
10-15% of cases
also known as exudative or neovascular
characterised by choroidal neovascularisation
leakage of serous fluid and blood result in rapid loss of vision
has worse prognosis
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
what is the clinical presentation?
Visual changes associated with AMD tend to be unilateral, with:
- Gradual loss of central vision
- Reduced visual acuity
- Crooked or wavy appearance to straight lines (metamorphopsia)
- poor vision at night
- photopsia (perceived flickering of lights)
- gradually worsening ability to read small text.
SIGNS
- visual distortion (particularly line perception- metamorphopsia)
- drusen (yellow spots) in dry ARMD
- subretinal/intraretinal haemorrhages in wet ARMD
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
what are the investigations?
- slit lamp = identification of exudative, pigmentary or haemorrhagic changes in retina
- colour fundus photography = monitor progression
- Fluorescein angiography = to identify neovascular ARMD + guide anti-VEGF therapy
- OCT scan = assess all layers of retina + identification of disease not visible by slit lamp
ANTERIOR UVEITIS
what is it associated with?
HLA-B27
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and reactive arthritis)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Sarcoidosis
Behçet’s disease
ANTERIOR UVEITIS
what is the clinical presentation?
SYMPTOMS
- painful, red eye
- photophobia
- tear formation
- blurred vision, then a reduction in visual acuity
SIGNS
- red eye
- presence of hypopyon (pus cells in anterior chamber which can show fluid level)
- presence of keratic precipitates
- ciliary flush (dilated ciliary vessels spreading outwards from pupil)
- small or irregular pupil
ANTERIOR UVEITIS
what are the investigations?
- physical exam (visual fields, acuity, CN assessment)
- slit lamp
to consider
- infection/autoimmune screen
ANTERIOR UVEITIS
what is the management?
urgently refer to ophthalmologist for review within 24hrs
1st line
- corticosteroids (topical, orally, IV, or ocular injections)
- cycloplegic-mydriatic drug (CYCLOPENTOLATE 1% or ATROPINE 1%)
- antimicrobials
2nd line
- immunosuppressants (DMARDS)
- surgical intervention (laser phototherapy, cryotherapy, vitrectomy)
BLEPHARITIS
what are the causes?
meibomian gland dysfunction (common, posterior blepharitis)
seborrhoeic dermatitis/staphylococcal infection (less common, anterior blepharitis).
CATARACTS
what are the risk factors?
Increasing age
Smoking
Alcohol
Diabetes
Steroids
Hypocalcaemia
CATARACTS
what is the clinical presentation?
usually asymmetrical, as both eyes are affected separately.
SYMPTOMS
It presents with:
- gradual painless loss of vision
- difficulty reading/watching TV
- Progressive blurring of the vision
- Colours becoming more faded, brown or yellow
- Starbursts (haloes around lights) can appear around lights, particularly at night
SIGNS
- loss of red reflex
- brown/white appearance of lens on slit-lamp
CATARACTS
what are the investigations and findings?
Loss of the red reflex is a key examination finding.
The lens can appear grey or white using an ophthalmoscope, even from a distance. This is also seen on photographs taken with a flash.