Acute Visual Loss
Download
Report
Transcript Acute Visual Loss
UBC Ophthalmology Interest Group Seminar Series
1.18.2012
ACUTE VISUAL LOSS
ANATOMY REVIEW
24 mm
Photo courtesy: Heather O’Donnell, PGY2, UBC
PRIMARY CARE APPROACH
History
Onset
ie. minutes vs days, following trauma?
Transient vs permanent
Mono vs binocular
Associated symptoms eg. pain, swelling, floaters
Other medical conditions and eye history
Medications
Eye Exam
Visual
acuity
Equivalent
to vitals for the eye
VISUAL ACUITY TESTING
Eye Exam
Visual acuity
Equivalent
to vitals for the eye
Pupils, RAPD
Another
‘vitals’, from eye/neuro/trauma point of view
Confrontational visual field
Extraocular movement
Tonometry
External examination
Slit lamp: lids, conjunctiva, AC
Dilated examination, fundoscopy
CASE 1
Previously well 75F presents to ED for sudden
R eye pain and blurry vision while watching TV
at night
c/o “halo” around lights
Symptoms not resolved
Hx: cataract in both eye, mild HTN
No medications
CASE 1
OD CF, OS 20/25
R pupil fixed 4mm
Rock hard globe
Corneal edema
Conj injections
Opposite eye looks
normal
Nausea, vomit x 1
Photo courtesy: A. Doan, MD,
University of Iowa
IMPRESSION AND PLAN?
A. Urgent head CT r/o mass lesion in brain
causing high ICP
B. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis, pt needs abx
eye drops
C. Chemical keratitis, rinse eye in sterile water
for 10 min immediately
D. Acute angle closure glaucoma, consult
ophthalmology STAT
ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA
Results from aqueous outflow obstruction by
iris, rise in IOP, ischemia and permanent
glaucomatous damage: emergency!
IOP = 42 mmHg (normal 12-20mmHg)
Acetazolamide and timolol were given initially,
followed by pilocarpine 1 hour later.
IOP decreased to 19 mmHg
Laser peripheral iridotomy arranged the next
day is the definitive treatment
LASER PERIPHERAL IRIDOTOMY
Photo courtesy: A. Doan, MD, University of Iowa
CASE 2
50M highly myopic pt
sees GP for c/o new
onset of “flashing
lights and floaters”
Blurry vision but no
pain
Otherwise healthy
Rev Ophthalmol, 2006, 6:15
CASE 2
OD 20/80, OS 20/20
Pupils, anterior
segment normal
Vitreous: tobacco dust
IOP: OD 10 mmHg, OS
13 mmHg
Rev Ophthalmol, 2006, 6:15
RETINAL DETACHMENT
Rhegmatogenous most common, start as a
tear, fluid build up beneath neuroretina
separates it from retinal pigment epithelium
High myopia is a risk factor
In office: avoid pressure on globe, protect the
eye
Immediate ophthalmological consult required
Surgery is definitive treatment, often urgent
CASE 3
75F with sudden
painless loss of vision
OD yesterday comes
to GP office
A “grey spot” in her
vision, grown over 10
min
Hx incl. CAD, HTN, TIA
Denies eye problems
Photo courtesy: AAO 2011
CASE 3
OD CF, OS 20/30
R pupil sluggish 3mm
RAPD
EOM full
Cornea, AC grossly
normal
IOP 10mmHg B/L
Cranial nerves intact
Photo courtesy: AAO 2011
MANAGEMENT
A. Assure pt that her vision is unsalvageable,
she needs to start Plavix to prevent a stroke
B. Send pt to emergency department STAT
C. Compress and release the eye right now
D. You don’t know what this is, so you make a
regular referral to ophthalmologist in 2-3 weeks
CRAO
Central retinal artery occlusion often secondary
to embolus in a vasculopathic patient
Ophthalmological emergency
Immediate restoration of retinal blood flow is
necessary to save sight
Even with compress, sight is often not
salvageable.
Need to evaluate etiology
CASE 4
85F comes to GP for sudden vision loss today
2 months of transient double vision
She has been feeling fatigued with muscle and
joint aches for the last 6 months
New headache in her R temple particularly
when she combs her hair
Her jaw is painful when she’s eating
BMJ 2011, 343d4783
CASE 4
OD LP, OS 20/40
R pupil 3mm RAPD
EOM full
VF: wide spread loss
Anterior segment
normal
ESR from last week:
80 mm/h
Dx:
A. Temporal arteritis
B. Amaurosis fugax
C. Multiple sclerosis
D. Compressive optic
neuropathy
NEXT STEP?
A. Urgent neurology referral as stroke is
imminent
B. Start patient on high dose steroids
empirically because benefits outweigh risks
C. Ophthalmology referral for a temporal artery
biopsy to confirm diagnosis
D. Urgent MRI of brain as it’s most sensitive
and specific for confirming a central lesion
TEMPORAL ARTERITIS
Aka giant cell arteritis. Another classic
ophthalmological emergency
Suspect in older women with new headache,
vision loss, and systemic sx
Elevated ESR/CRP helps to rule in dx
Must initiate high dose steroids immediately
followed by temporal artery biopsy
SUMMARY
Approach: Hx, Va, Pupils, out to in, front to back
Acute vision loss is often a sign of serious
ocular disease process:
Acute
angle closure glaucoma
Retinal detachment
Central retinal artery occlusion
Temporal arteritis
Urgent ophthalmological referral is needed
(timeframe usually minutes to hours)
Immediate action is also required; time is sight
QUESTIONS ?
Acknowledgement
Case
editor: Steven Schendel, PGY-4 UBC
Contact
R
Tom Liu, UBC Med 2013
[email protected]