Week 7: Assisting with Eye and Ear Care

What is the role of an MA in opthalmology:

• visual acuity (distance)

• Snellen chart

• Visual acuity (near)

• Jaeger

• Color vision

• Ishihara

What are types of disorders of external eye structure?

• blepharitis

• Ptosis

• Conjunctivitis

• Corneal ulcers and abrasions

• Sty

Define blepharitis?

• chronic inflammation of the eyelid edges

Define Ptosis:

• droopy upper eyelid

Define conjunctivitis:

• pink eye

Define sty:

• infection at the eyelash border - apply moist warm compresses, do not “pop”

What are the disorders of internal eye structures?

• cataracts

• Glaucoma

Define cataracts:

• cloudy or opaque lens

Define glaucoma:

• increased fluid pressure: diagnosed by tonometer

What are the disorders of the retina:

• retinal detachment

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Macular degeneration

Define retinal detachment:

• floaters and light flashes

Define diabetic retinopathy:

• damage to blood vessels supplying the retina

Define macular degeneration:

• dark spot in the center of the field of vision, peripheral vision remains intact

What are disorders involving eye movement?

• strabismus

• Amblyopia

Define strabismus:

• misaligned eyes

• Children - misaligned or unbalanced muscles

• Adults - problems with nerves

Define amblyopia:

• Lazy eye

• Occurs as misaligned eye becomes lazy

• Patch is placed over fully working eye to force child to use the lazy eye

What are the types of refractive disorders?

• myopia

• Hyperopia

• Presbyopia

• Astigmatism

Define myopia:

• near-sighted

• Patient cannot see far distances

Define hyperopia:

• far-sighted

• Patient cannot see up close

Define presbyopia:

• loss of vision due to aging

Define astigmatism:

• uneven cornea causing blurry vision

What are the types of ophthalmic exams?

• ophthalmoscope

• Tonometer

• Refraction exam

Define ophthalmoscope:

• allows the physician to see inside the eye

• Ensure equipment is in working order

Define tonometer:

• used to measure the pressure inside the eyes

• Diagnose glaucoma

Define refraction exam:

• verify need for corrective lenses

What are types of screening tests?

• Snellen chart

• Jaeger chart

• Ishihara

Define Snellen chart:

• acuity test - distance

• 20 feet away from chart

Define jaeger chart:

• acuity test - near

Define Ishihara:

• color vision

Administering medications to the eye:

• To reduce pressure inside the eyes

• To relieve eye pain

• To treat eye infections and inflammation

As an MA when administering medications to the eye:

• avoid touching a dropper or ointment tube tip to the eye:

• May injure eye

• May cause an infection

• May contaminate the medication

• Explain medications use

• How to check medication labels carefully before administering them at home

What are types of diseases/disorders in the Middle Ear?

• otitis media - middle ear infections, requires oral medication

• Otosclerosis - hardening of bones of middle ear resulting in hearing loss

What are types of diseases and disorders of the outer ear?

• cerumen impaction - earwax

• Otitis external - swimmers ear

What are types of diseases and disorders of the inner ear?

• Ménière’s disease - leads to dizzy spells (vertigo) and hearing loss, most cases only one ear; starts between young and middle-aged adulthood

• Tinnitus - ringing in ears

What are types of tests for the ear?

• audiometer - measures hearing acuity by testing different frequencies

• Tympanometry - gauges pressure inside the middle ear; used to assess fluid trapped in middle ear

• Tuning fork - used to assess hearing (frequency)

MA treatments with ears:

• patient education - preventative ear care

• Administer ear medications

• Perform ear irrigations

• Assist with earwax removal

• Referral to adiometrist for hearing aids

Cerumen impaction (earwax):

• patient advised to use ear drops to soften wax

• Irrigations to remove it

Define pruritus:

• itching

• Common disorders of outer ear

Define labrynithitis:

• infection of inner ear resulting in vertigo (dizziness)

Define ruptured eardrum:

• hole or tear in the tympanic membrane

• Can result in hearing loss

Define presbycusis:

• hearing loss due to aging

Administering ear drops or perform ear irrigations to treat:

• ear infections or inflammation

• Relieve ear pain

• Loosen earwax

Medications:

• warm drops before administration to avoid dizziness or syncope

Earwax removal:

• cerumen may build up ear canal causing a full feeling, ear pain, partial hearing loss, and tinnitus

Define cerumen:

• earwax

Define hyperopia:

• farsighted, patient cant see up close

Define myopia:

• nearsighted, patient cant see far distances