Common Ocular Diseases and Pathologies Flashcards
6 cards from real CPO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Common Ocular Diseases and Pathologies flashcards as text
Which condition is characterized by progressive damage to the optic nerve, often associated with elevated intraocular pressure, leading to peripheral vision loss?
Answer: Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for vision. This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) and typically affects peripheral vision first.
A patient complaining of a 'curtain' or 'shadow' in their vision, along with a sudden onset of flashes and floaters, is likely experiencing:
Answer: A retinal detachment
These are classic symptoms of a retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency. The flashes are caused by the retina pulling away from its underlying tissue, and the 'curtain' represents the area of the retina that has detached and is no longer functioning.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) primarily affects which part of a person's vision?
Answer: Central (straight-ahead) vision
AMD is a disease that damages the macula, the small central portion of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed, central vision. Therefore, patients with AMD lose their central vision, making tasks like reading and recognizing faces difficult, while their peripheral vision usually remains intact.
The progressive clouding of the eye's natural crystalline lens is known as:
Answer: A cataract
A cataract is the opacification or clouding of the lens inside the eye, which is normally clear. This clouding obstructs the passage of light, leading to symptoms like blurry vision, glare, and faded colors.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is caused by:
Answer: Damage to the small blood vessels in the retina
High blood sugar levels over time can damage the tiny blood vessels within the retina. These damaged vessels can leak fluid or blood (non-proliferative retinopathy) or lead to the growth of new, abnormal vessels (proliferative retinopathy), both of which can severely damage vision.
Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of which ocular structure?
Answer: The conjunctiva
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as 'pink eye', is the inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin, transparent membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white part of the eye (sclera).