Vascular and Neuro-Opthalmic Disease Flashcards
(120 cards)
Cause of retinal artery occlusions
Thromboembolism - from atherosclerosis
Arteritis (for central retinal artery occlusion)
What is central retinal artery occlusion
Occlusion of the central retinal artery causing infarction of inner 2/3 of retina and vision loss
What structure supplies the outer 1/3 of retina
Choroid
What arteritis can cause central retinal artery occlusion
Giant cell arteritis
Symptoms of central retinal artery occlusion
Sudden, painless severe loss of vision
Unilateral
Signs of central retinal artery occlusion
Relative afferent pupil defect (RAPD)
Thread like arteries
Retina becomes pale and oedematous
Cherry red spot at fovea
What is relative afferent pupil defect
When one of the eyes responds differently to light
What is the normal pupil response to light
When light is shone on one eye, the pupil should constrict
The other eye should simultaneously constrict as well due to consensual light reflex
When the light is removed, both should dilate at the same time
How is relative afferent pupil defect tested
Swinging light test
- Shine the light onto one eye then wait about 3 sec then switch to the other eye
- When shone to the affected one - the affected pupil dilates more instead of constrict / the affected one constricts less than the affected one
Management of central retinal artery occlusion
Immediate referral to stroke clinic
Identify and treat underlying cause
What is branch retinal artery occlusion
When one of the branches of central retinal artery becomes occluded -> ischaemia to the area the branch supplies
Symptoms of branch retinal artery occlusion
Acute, painless visual impairment
Unilateral
Severity of visual loss depends on which area is affected
Signs of branch retinal artery occlusion
Absence of perfusion (shown as white plaques on fundoscopy)
Management of branch retinal artery occlusion
Refer to stroke clinic
What is amaurosis fugax
Transient central retinal artery occlusion
Amaurosis fugax is seen in
Giant cell arteritis
Symptoms of amaurosis fugax
Transient painless visual loss
“like a curtain coming down”
Lasts for 5 minutes then full recovery
Are there any findings on fundoscopy for amaurosis fugax
Usually no abnormal signs
management of GCA with visual impairment
IV methylprednisolone
Same day ophthalmology review
What does Virchow’s triad describe
the 3 factors that contribute to the development of venous thrombosis
What are the 3 factors in Virchow’s triad
Endothelial damage
Abnormal blood flow
Hypercoagulable state
Examples of conditions that can cause endothelial damage
Diabetes
Trauma / surgery
Atherosclerosiss
Examples of conditions that can cause hyper coagulable state
Malignancy
Pregnancy
Sepsis
IBD
Examples of conditions that can cause abnormal blood flow
Immobility
Afib
Left ventricular dysfunction
Obesity
Pregnancy