Internal Eye Exam: Key Concepts and Findings

One of the three chambers of the eye.

Anterior Chamber

One of the three chambers of the eye.

Posterior Chamber

One of the three chambers of the eye.

Vitreous Chamber

Outer coating of eye, white, fibrous.

Sclera

Bed of blood vessels, right under retina.

Choroid

Sensory portion of the eye.

Retina

Provides an easy view of the fundus through an undiluted pupil.

Small Aperture

Standard aperture for dilated pupil and general examination.

Large Aperture

Permits easy observation without masking the macula.

Fixation Grid

Excludes red rays from exam field for easy identification of veins, arteries, nerves.

Red Free Light

Helps determine lesions, especially tumors and edematous discs.

Slit Light

Blue filter used with fluorescein dye for easy viewing of corneal abrasions.

Cobalt Filter

Virtually eliminates corneal reflection.

Polarizer

Used to dilate pupils; contraindications include head injury, coma, AMS, acute glaucoma.

Mydriatic Agents

Degenerative eye disease characterized by yellowing of the lens and absence of red reflex.

Cataracts

Causes absence of red reflex due to bleeding into vitreous humor from retinal vessels.

Vitreous Opacity

Most common malignant tumor of retina, presents with white pupil and absence of red reflex.

Retinoblastoma

Causes decreased or cloudy vision, often described as a 'curtain' over visual fields.

Detached Retina

Condition where the lens becomes hardened with age, typically affecting those over 40 years old.

Presbyopia

Nearsightedness where images are focused in the vitreous inside the eye.

Myopia

Farsightedness where light rays focus behind the retina.

Hyperopia

Normal eyes with perfect vision.

Emmetropia

Error in focusing ability of the eye.

Astigmatism

Damage to the retina, often due to impaired blood flow.

Retinopathy

Leading cause of new blindness in adults aged 20-65; all diabetics need yearly dilated eye exams.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Condition where hypertension affects retinal and choroidal circulation, causing specific changes in retinal arterioles.

Hypertensive Retinopathy

Thickening of arterial walls due to hypertension, causing increased light reflex.

Copper Wire

Narrowed artery with opaque walls, associated with hypertension.

Silver Wire

Vein appears to stop on either side of an artery.

A-V Nicking

Condition characterized by widespread retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots.

Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

'New veins' that can develop in the retina.

Neovascularization

Emergency condition presenting with a cherry red spot on the fovea.

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Tiny, round red spots commonly found in/around the macular area.

Microaneurysms

'Flame stitch hemorrhage' characterized by small, linear, flame-shaped red streaks in the fundus.

Superficial Retinal Hemorrhages

Blood escapes into the potential space between retina and vitreous, causing sudden increase in IOP.

Pre-retinal Hemorrhages

'Cotton wool spots' that are whiteish/grey oval lesions associated with hypertension or diabetes.

Soft Exudates

Creamy/yellowish lesions with well-defined 'hard' borders, associated with diabetes and hypertension.

Hard Exudates

Undigested cellular debris associated with macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness in those over 60.

Drusen Bodies

Death of the optic nerve fibers leading to loss of tiny disc vessels, resulting in a white optic disc.

Optic Atrophy

Swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure.

Papilledema

Increased pressure within the eyes causes cupping and atrophy of the optic disc.

Glaucoma Cupping