Eye & Ear Anatomy, Disorders, and Procedures

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering eye and ear anatomy, pathologies, diagnostic assessments, and surgical interventions based on the lecture slides.

Refraction

The bending of light rays as they pass into a medium where they are slowed.

Accommodation

The mechanism by which the eye changes its refractive power by altering the shape of the lens to focus objects at variable distances.

Snellen Chart

A diagnostic tool used to measure visual acuity, typically featuring rows of letters in decreasing size.

Amsler Grid

A tool used to detect vision problems resulting from damage to the macula or optic nerve, often appearing distorted or blurred to someone with AMD.

Slit lamp examination

Provides a magnified view of external and internal eye structures; mostly used to examine the anterior segment and can be used with mydriatics for dilation.

Tonometry

A procedure used to measure intraocular pressure (IOP); normal readings are between $10-22\,mmHg$.

Total blindness

A category of blindness characterized by no light perception.

Functional blindness

A state where a patient has light perception but no usable vision.

Legal blindness

A visual acuity of $20/200$ or worse with corrective eyewear or a visual field reduced to $20$ degrees (normally $180$).

Hyperopia

A refractive error where the focal point of light rays falls behind the retina.

Myopia

A refractive error where the focal point of light rays falls in front of the retina.

Astigmatism

A refractive error caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, leading to multiple focal points.

Radial Keratotomy

A refractory surgery involving partial thickness radial incisions made in the cornea.

Photorefractive Keratotomy (PRK)

A surgical procedure where an excimer UV laser reshapes the corneal surface.

LASIK

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis; a surgery where a corneal flap is folded back and an excimer laser removes internal corneal layers.

Blepharitis

Inflammation of the eyelids characterized by crusted eyelashes, excessive tearing, redness, and blocked meibomian glands.

Chalazion

A hard bump on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland, often resolved by warm compresses or steroid shots.

Stye (Hordeolum)

An infection-triggered eyelid swelling marked by pain, tearing, and sensitivity to light, often treated with antibiotics.

Conjunctivitis

Commonly known as 'Pink Eye', an inflammation of the conjunctiva that can be bacterial, viral, or allergic in origin.

Keratitis

Inflammation of the cornea which may be bacterial, fungal, viral, or caused by Acanthamoeba.

Sjogren Syndrome

A condition involving deficient fluid production in lacrimal and other glands, contributing to dry eyes.

Ectropion

A condition where the eyelid rolls outward.

Entropion

A condition where the eyelid rolls inward.

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens (nuclear, cortical, or subcapsular) leading to symptoms like blurred vision and difficulty with night vision.

Phacoemulsification

A modern cataract surgery method involving breaking the lens capsule and using irrigation to extract the cloudy lens.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Retinal damage characterized by hemorrhages, abnormal blood vessel growth, aneurysms, and 'cotton wool spots'.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)

A condition causing a blind spot in the center of the field of vision, linked to risk factors like UV exposure, smoking, and genetics.

Retinal Detachment

A condition where the retina pulls away from its normal position, signaled by flashing lights, new floaters, and a 'gray curtain' shadow in peripheral vision.

Scleral Buckling

A surgical repair for retinal detachment using a silicone implant and encircling band to support the retina.

Pneumatic Retinopexy

A procedure for retinal detachment repair involving the injection of a gas bubble into the vitreous.

Glaucoma

A group of disorders characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP), obstruction of aqueous humor outflow, and progressive loss of peripheral vision.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

The most common form of glaucoma where IOP rises slowly due to congestion in the trabecular meshwork; tonometry readings range from $22-32\,mmHg$.

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma (AACG)

A medical emergency with rapidly rising IOP reaching levels of $50\,mmHg$ or higher due to a blocked canal of Schlemm.

Enucleation

The surgical removal of the entire eye including the globe, while leaving the orbital contents in place.

Keratoplasty

A corneal transplant procedure; post-operative care includes avoiding sneezing, coughing, or rubbing the eyes to prevent dislodging sutures.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by issues in the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from reaching the inner ear.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve.

Weber Test

A tuning fork test for localization; in normal hearing, the sound is midline.

Rinne Test

A tuning fork test comparing air conduction to bone conduction; normally air conduction is greater than bone conduction.

Romberg's Test

A vestibular test where the patient stands with feet together and eyes open then closed to check for sway or instability.

Otitis Externa

Commonly known as 'Swimmer's Ear', an infection in the ear canal often diagnosed by the patient pulling on the pinna.

Otitis Media

Inflammation of the middle ear, often presenting with a bulging tympanic membrane and hyperemia; common bacterial causes include Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Labyrinthitis

Inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinth).

Vertigo

The sensation of spinning or tilting, or that one's surroundings are rotating, sometimes caused by otoconia (crystals) shifting in the semicircular canals.

Otosclerosis

A condition where bony growth in the middle ear prevents the stapes bone from vibrating properly, causing poor sound travel.

Stapedectomy

The surgical removal of the diseased stapes bone and replacing it with an artificial plastic prosthesis to restore hearing.

Tympanoplasty

Surgical repair of a perforated eardrum using a patch.

Myringotomy

A surgical incision into the eardrum to relieve pressure in the middle ear.