Eyes & Vision – VN202 Lecture Review

Question-and-Answer flashcards covering eye anatomy, physiology, assessment, cultural variations, age considerations, eye disorders, risk factors, emergency signs, and common abnormal findings as presented in the VN202 Health Data Collection lecture on Eyes & Vision.

Which cranial nerves innervate the extra-ocular muscles (EOMs)?

Cranial Nerves III (Oculomotor), IV (Trochlear), and VI (Abducens).

What six muscles move the eyeball?

Superior rectus, Inferior rectus, Medial rectus, Lateral rectus, Superior oblique, and Inferior oblique.

What gland produces tears?

The lacrimal gland.

Through which structure do tears drain into the nose?

The nasolacrimal duct.

Name the tough, white, outer coat of the eye.

Sclera.

What clear, curved structure covers the iris and helps focus light?

Cornea.

What part of the retina provides the sharpest vision?

The fovea centralis within the macula.

Where do optic nerve fibers partially cross to the opposite brain side?

At the optic chiasma.

Which cranial nerve carries visual acuity information?

Cranial Nerve II (Optic).

What reflex causes an involuntary blink when the cornea is touched?

Corneal reflex.

Describe the pupillary light reflex.

Pupils constrict (direct and consensual response) when exposed to bright light.

List the three components of the accommodation response.

1) Increased lens curvature, 2) Pupillary constriction, 3) Convergence of the eyes.

Define visual field.

Everything that can be seen with one eye while it is fixed straight ahead.

What chart is the standard tool for testing distant visual acuity?

Snellen chart (or E chart).

Which handheld card is used to test near vision (especially in adults >40)?

Jaeger card or other handheld near-vision screener.

Which simple home test screens for macular degeneration?

The Amsler chart.

What does PERRLA stand for?

Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and Accommodation.

Define presbyopia.

Age-related loss of accommodation causing difficulty with near vision, common after age 45.

Which ethnic groups in the U.S. have the poorest corrected visual acuity?

Japanese and Chinese Americans.

Which groups generally have the best corrected visual acuity in the U.S.?

Native Americans and Whites.

Eye color tends to vary with what geographic factor?

Distance from the equator (darker near the equator, lighter farther away).

Epicanthic folds are common in which population and may indicate what in non-Asians?

Common in Asians; in non-Asians they may signal Down syndrome.

Which eye disease is more prevalent among African Americans?

Glaucoma.

Name two eyelid positions common in older adults.

Entropion (inward turning) and Ectropion (outward turning).

What yellowish nodules can appear on the bulbar conjunctiva of elders?

Pinguecula.

What is arcus senilis?

A gray-white arc around the cornea, common and benign in older adults.

What equipment is needed for an eye physical exam (list any four)?

Snellen/E chart, handheld near-vision screener, penlight, opaque cards, ophthalmoscope, disposable gloves.

Which test compares the client’s peripheral vision with the examiner’s?

Confrontation test.

Which two alignment tests evaluate extra-ocular muscle balance?

Corneal light reflex and Cover test.

List five urgent eye‐trauma findings requiring referral.

Foreign body, perforated globe, blood in the eye, swollen lid, white/hazy cornea, or irregular/fixed/dilated/constricted pupil (any one qualifies).

Define open-angle glaucoma and give two typical symptoms.

Chronic optic-nerve damage from high intra-ocular pressure; symptoms include patchy peripheral blind spots and tunnel vision.

List two hallmark symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Severe eye pain/headache and halos or blurred vision (may also include nausea, redness).

How often should adults 65+ be screened for glaucoma?

Every 6–12 months.

Give three strong risk factors for open-angle glaucoma.

High eye pressure, family history, African American age ≥40 or general population age ≥60, thin cornea, suspicious optic disc (any three).

What is macular degeneration?

Progressive deterioration of the macula causing central vision loss, blind spots, or distortion; leading cause of vision loss over 60.

Name four modifiable AMD risk factors.

Smoking, prolonged sun exposure, obesity, high-fat/high-cholesterol diet, inactivity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (any four).

Define cataract.

Clouding of the lens that gradually reduces vision; leading cause of blindness worldwide.

List three common cataract symptoms.

Cloudy/blurry vision, poor night vision/halos, fading yellowing of colors, sensitivity to glare, frequent prescription changes (any three).

Mention four cataract risk factors.

Aging, diabetes, excessive sunlight exposure, smoking, obesity, hypertension, steroid use, previous eye injury/surgery, heavy alcohol use (any four).

Which preventive measure is emphasized to lower cataract risk?

Regular eye exams and wearing UV-blocking sunglasses; also avoid smoking and maintain healthy lifestyle.

Define myopia.

Nearsightedness – light focuses in front of retina, distance vision is blurred.

Define hyperopia.

Farsightedness – light focuses behind retina, near vision is blurred.

What is astigmatism?

Irregular corneal or lens curvature causing distorted vision at all distances.

Distinguish esotropia from exotropia.

Esotropia is inward turning of an eye; exotropia is outward turning.

A latent eye deviation revealed only by the cover test is called what?

Phoria.

Define ptosis.

Drooping of the upper eyelid.

What is conjunctivitis?

Inflammation of the conjunctiva, presenting with redness, discharge, irritation (‘pink eye’).

Describe exophthalmos.

Protrusion of the eyeballs, often associated with hyperthyroidism (Graves disease).

Differentiate chalazion from hordeolum.

Chalazion: painless meibomian-gland cyst inside lid; Hordeolum (stye): painful, infected gland at lid margin.

What is blepharitis?

Chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins with redness, crusting, irritation.

What does scleral jaundice indicate?

Yellow discoloration of sclera due to elevated bilirubin, often signaling liver disease.

Define miosis.

Constricted pupils (≤2 mm), often due to narcotics, iritis, or brainstem damage.

Define mydriasis.

Dilated pupils (≥6 mm) that fail to constrict, seen with CNS injury, glaucoma, or drug use.

What is anisocoria?

Unequal pupil sizes (difference >0.4 mm).

Compare papilledema and optic atrophy.

Papilledema: swollen optic disc from raised intracranial pressure; Optic atrophy: pale disc from optic-nerve degeneration.

What are cotton-wool patches?

Soft exudates on retina caused by micro-infarcts of nerve fibers, appearing as white fluffy spots.

What are hard exudates?

Yellow, well-defined lipid deposits in retina, often from diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy.

Describe superficial (flame-shaped) vs deep (dot/blot) retinal hemorrhages.

Superficial hemorrhages follow nerve fiber layers and look flame-shaped; deep hemorrhages are round dot- or blot-shaped in deeper retina.