Ocular Pathology & Disease Recognition Flashcards

Which type of cataract is most commonly associated with corticosteroid use and diabetes mellitus?

Answer: Posterior subcapsular cataract

Posterior subcapsular cataracts form at the back of the lens capsule and are strongly associated with chronic corticosteroid use, diabetes, and radiation exposure.

The primary pathological mechanism in primary open-angle glaucoma involves:

Answer: Impaired drainage through the trabecular meshwork

Open-angle glaucoma results from progressive impairment of aqueous outflow through the trabecular meshwork, leading to elevated intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage.

Drusen deposits in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are located between which two layers?

Answer: Retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane

Drusen are extracellular deposits that accumulate between the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane, a hallmark finding in AMD.

Which finding is characteristic of non-proliferative (background) diabetic retinopathy?

Answer: Microaneurysms and dot-blot hemorrhages

Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is characterized by microaneurysms, dot-blot hemorrhages, hard exudates, and cotton-wool spots without new vessel formation.

Exudative (serous) retinal detachment differs from rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in that it:

Answer: Involves subretinal fluid without any retinal tear or break

Exudative retinal detachment occurs when fluid accumulates beneath the retina from leaking blood vessels or inflammation without a break in the retina.

A pterygium is a fibrovascular growth that typically originates from:

Answer: The nasal conjunctiva and extends toward the cornea

A pterygium is a wing-shaped fibrovascular overgrowth of conjunctival tissue that characteristically advances from the nasal limbal conjunctiva across onto the cornea.

Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy primarily causes vision loss by affecting which corneal layer?

Answer: Endothelium

Fuchs' dystrophy involves progressive degeneration of corneal endothelial cells, which normally pump fluid out of the cornea, leading to stromal edema and vision loss.