Snellen Chart
Amblyopia
Overview Amblyopia is a condition whereby there is a reduction in visual acuity due to a problem with focussing in early childhood. This results in reduced acuity as the brain…
Photo of a cataract with a dilated pupil
Cataracts
Introduction A cataract is an opacification of the lens of the eye. Cataracts tend to cause gradual loss of visual acuity, with normal pupillary response. Cataracts are the most common…
Dry Eyes
Dry Eyes
Introduction Dry eye is a common presenting complaint, especially in older patients. It affects 15-30% of people aged over 50. It is usually not indicative of any serious underlying disease,…
CT scan showing left orbital blowout fracture of the inferior orbital wall. This file is taken from wikimedia commons and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Enophthalmos
Introduction Enophthlamos refers to a posterior displacement of the eye ball within the eye socket. It is the opposite of exophthalmos - which refers to an anterior displacement of the eye ball…
Arteries of the head
Giant Cell Arteritis
Introduction Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) aka Temporal Arteritis is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition of the medium to large arteries which particularly affects the branches of the carotid artery. It presents with…
Anatomy of the Eye. Illustration from Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site. http://cnx.org/content/col11496/1.6/
Glaucoma
Introduction Definition of glaucoma – gradual death of the optic nerve often associated with high intraocular pressure. Increased intraocular pressure is usually due to an imbalance in aqueous humour production…
Lid Disease
Chalazion Granuloma of meibomian glands (reactions to accumulation of lipid following duct blockage) Initially a hard and inflamed lump in the lid, settles to leave a discrete lump, visible on…
Image of the retina from a patient with macular degeneration. Note the darker than normal colour of the macular, and the presence of Drusen on the retina. This file is taken from wikimedia commons and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Macular Degeneration
Introduction Macular degeneration (aka age-related maculopathy - ARM) is a condition that causes gradual visual loss, typically in older patients. It can be split into two types: Dry - atrophic Slow…
Proptosis
Orbital cellulitis Ophthalmic emergency, infection of soft tissues behind orbital septum extension of infection from periorbital structures (ethmoid sinusitis), face, globe, lacrimal sac or dental infection direct inoculation of orbit…
Pupillary Defects
For a really good demonstration of how this works, see Eye simulator V2.0 Physiology There are two nerves involved in pupillary responses: Optic Nerve (II) – this is the afferent…