II. Anatomy
- See Retinal Anatomy
- Optic Disc (Optic Nerve Head, Optic Papilla)
- Pink to white oval disc at the posterior globe where the Retinal Ganglion cell axons exit the eye and form the Optic Nerve
- This portion of the Retina is devoid of light sensitive photoreceptors
- Optic Cup (Physiologic Cup)
- Funnel shaped depression at the center of the optic disc
- Paler than the surrounding Neuroretinal Rim
- In Glaucoma, the cup enlarges (cupping) as the rim thins, resulting in an increased cup to disc ratio (>0.3)
- Neuroretinal Rim
III. Preparation: Pupil Dilation
- See Mydriatics
-
Tropicamide 0.5% - 1% (Mydriacyl)
- Onset: 20-40 minutes
- Duration: 4-8 hours in most cases (may last as long as 24 hours)
- Blue eyes more sensitive, lasts longer
- Start with 0.5% concentration
-
Phenylephrine hydrochloride 2.5% (Ak-Dilate, Mydfrin)
- Onset: 30-60 minutes
- Duration: 3-5 hours
- Contraindications to dilation
- Shallow anterior chamber OR angle-closure Glaucoma
- Following pupillary signs after Head Injury
- Iris supported intraocular lens implantation
- (square/hexagonal pupil 'sputnik')
IV. Exam: Protocol
- Red Reflex
- Optic Disc
- Clarity of disc (evaluation for Papilledema)
- Cup Disc Ratio
- Ratio of horizontal diameter of the cup to disc
- Abnormal Cup to Disc Ratio >0.3 to 0.5 suggests Glaucoma
-
Retinal Circulation
- Venous pulsations
- Macula
- Retinal Background
V. Findings
-
Increased Intracranial Pressure
- Papilledema
- Absent venous pulsations
-
Vitreous Hemorrhage
- Retina with overlying reddish haze
- Black Reflex
-
Macular Degeneration
- Gray-Green sub-Retinal membrane
-
Retinal Artery Occlusion
- Retina appears pale-gray due to Retinal edema
- Central Macula (fovea) with cherry-red spot on white-yellow background
- Constricted arterioles
- Box-Carring of Retinal vessels
- Retinal vessels with interrupted columns of blood appear as train box cars
- Hollenhorst Plaques (emboli)
- "Glistening orange yellow flakes"
- Represent fragmented emboli at arteriole bifurcation
-
Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Optic disc edema
- Retinal veins with tortuous dilation
- Blood streaked Retina (esp. in ischemic type)
- Diffuse Retinal Hemorrhages radiating from optic disc ("Blood and thunder Retina")
-
Glaucoma
-
General
- Focal thinning of neural rim
- Nerves at edge of cup and edge of disc
- Thinning seen at temporal (lateral) disc margin
- Superficial Hemorrhage overlying disc edge
- Cloudy Cornea (acute Glaucoma)
- Focal thinning of neural rim
- Diagnostic changes
- Symmetrically enlarged cup-to-disc ratio >0.5 or
- Cup-to-disc ratio difference between eyes >0.2 or
- Significantly asymmetric cup in one eye
-
General
-
Diabetic Retinopathy
- Nonproliferative Retinopathy
- Retinal veins dilated
- Cotton Wool exudates or spots
- Hard exudates
- Macular edema
- Intraretinal Hemorrhages
- Microaneurysms
- Proliferative Retinopathy
- Neovascularization
- Preretinal Hemorrhages
- Vitreous Hemorrhages
- Vascular fibrosis
- Nonproliferative Retinopathy
-
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Blood in center of disc
- Methanol Intoxication
- Choked disc with engorged veins