Visual Acuity and Special Senses Overview

Visual Acuity

The clarity or sharpness of vision.

Snellen Chart

A standardized chart used to measure visual acuity.

Myopia

Nearsightedness.

Hyperopia

Farsightedness.

Presbyopia

Age-related farsightedness.

OD

Right Eye.

OU

Both Eyes.

OS

Left Eye.

Visual Acuity Test Purpose

Determine the smallest letters read on a standardized chart from 20 ft away.

20/__ Patients Results

Shows how much a patient can read from 20 feet away. Helps prescribe corrective lenses.

Ishihara Test Purpose

Color-blindness test.

Ishihara Test Distance

14-18 inches away from the patient.

Ishihara Test Primary Colors

Red-green color.

Nearsighted Test Purpose

Measures how eyes focus light & determine power of corrective lenses.

Clinical Diagnosis

Identifying a disease based on patient's symptoms & clinical history.

Differential Diagnosis

Possible conditions that share the same symptoms you described to your provider.

Prognosis

Likely course/outcome of a disease.

Risk Factor

Age, gender, location, etc that makes a patient more susceptible to a certain disease than the average person.

Acute Illness

Short-term but severe illness.

Chronic Illness

Long term illness.

Screening

Checking for disease when there are no symptoms.

Diagnostic

Measures current level or probability of a diagnosis.

Otoscope

Tool used to visualize the eardrum & ear canal.

Ophthalmoscope

Tool with a light & different lenses to view the eyeball.

Speculum

Used to examine hollow parts of the body, such as during vaginal exams.

Tuning Fork

Tool that produces a fixed tone.

AU

Both ears.

AS

Left ear.

AD

Right ear.

VIS

Vaccine Information Statement.

Urine Collection Purpose

Helps diagnose kidney problems.

NB Screening Card Purpose

Detects hearing loss, cardiac effects, and genetic disorders.

Intramuscular Injection

1-1 ¼ inch needle, antero-lateral thigh muscle, deltoid if older.

Subcutaneous Injection

5/8 inch needle, antero-lateral thigh muscle.

RSV Antibody

Prevents lung disease caused by RSV. Recommended for ages 0-23 months.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Prevents liver disease from Hep B. Administered every 6 months.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Stimulates natural immune system.

Hepatitis A

stimulates natural immune system. 6-18 months

Rotavirus

protects against rotavirus. 2-6 months

Hib

protected against Hib virus. 2-15 months

Pneumococcal

protects against bacterial infections. 2-15 months

Polio

prevents against polio. 2 months - 6 years

COVID-19

prevents against Covid. 6 months - 6 years

Influenza

prevents against flu. 9 months - 6 years

MMR

protects against measles, mumps, rubella. 12, 15 months & 4-6 years

Varicella

prevents chickenpox. 12, 15 months & 4-6 years

Weight measurement for infants

Remove child's clothing & diaper, place on their back on scale, measure in lbs

Height measurement for infants

Place infant lying on their back, use a tape measuring in cm, draw line at the heel and head of baby

Head circumference measurement for infants

Have baby sit up with parent holding them up, wrap tape measure around the baby's head

Age to stop head circumference measurement

36 months

Sensorineural hearing loss

damage to eight cranial nerve or central auditory pathway caused by heredity, toxins, loud noises, and aging

Conductive hearing loss

results from blockage in sound transmission to inner ear caused by obstructions, severe infection, fixation of middle ear ossicles

Otitis

inflammation of the ear caused by obstructions & infection

Otosclerosis

deterioration of bony structures of the inner ear causing the stapes to not vibrate

Ménière Disease

seems to involve production and circulation of inner ear fluid causing vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus

Acoustic Neuroma

benign tumors growing in the ear impairing hearing

Myopia

nearsightedness caused by an eyeball being too long

Hyperopia

farsightedness caused by a too short eyeball

Astigmatism

irregularity in the curve of cornea & lens. Glasses typically correct most of these impairments

Diabetic Retinopathy

high blood sugar from diabetes impairs the retina

Cataract Extraction Surgeries

remove lens of the eye and replace with an artificial one

Glaucoma

eye diseases damage the optic nerve causing vision loss

Function of the sclera

outermost layer extended over the front of eyes as a transparent cornea

Function of the iris

muscular ring than controls size of pupil & determines eye color

Function of the retina

senses light & sends signals to brain