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Degenerative ocular conditions - Coggle Diagram
Degenerative ocular conditions
Degeneration of the cornea
Keratoconus
Causes severe myopia and a high degree of astigmatism with gross visual impairment
In mild cases, spectacles can be prescribed to correct astigmatism and myopia
The center of the cornea becomes thin and bulges forward to give a cone-shaped appearance, rarely presents before puberty. (Juta's, 2015)
Periodic follow-up would be necessary to assess the progress of the condition
As the condition progresses, contact lens or corneal transplant may be recommended
Arcus senilis
The condition is age related, but may occur in younger people, associated with hypercholesterolaemia
Such patients are referred for blood lipid studies, otherwise no treatment is required
Appears as a grey line encircling the cornea (Juta's, 2015)
Degeneration of the lens
Caratacts
May be congenital, hereditary, age-related, due to changes in the lens, trauma to the eye, excessive exposure to light or associated with ocular inflammation
Common tests include : Snellen visual acuity test, ophthalmoscopy and slitlamp biomicroscopy
Clouding or opacity of the crystalline lens. (Juta's, 2015)
Patient should not lift head suddenly after surgery, should avoid straining and stooping as these may increase intraocular pressure.
Anticoagulant including aspirin are withheld 5 to 7 days prior surgery, dilating drops every 10 minutes at least an hour before surgery, prophylactic antibiotics and corticosteroids may be prescribed to prevent infection
Degeneration of the vitreous humour
Floaters
Floaters do not normally affect vision but patients will complain
that a speck is floating about in the field of vision.
Treatment is not necessary
Are spots that appear in the visual field and are
mainly due to degeneration and increased fluidity of the vitreous
(Juta's, 2015)
Degeneration of the retina
Age-related macular oedema
Signs and symptoms include : Blurred vision, and there may also be blind spots resulting in a dark or empty area in the centre of the field of vision
Colour vision may be administered, there is no treatment
Leading cause of blindness, affects central vision, the condition is usually bilateral but affects one eye more than the other (Juta's, 2015)
Retinitis pigmentosa
Signs and symptoms include : night blindness and contraction of peripheral visual field, which commences at an early stage
As the patient gets older, central vision begins to deteriorate resulting in blindness, pigment cells form in the periphery of the retina and gradually invade the central retinal area
Degenerative hereditary disease, which is chronic and progressive, the changes manifest early in life and would occur mainly in the neural epithelial layer of the rod cells, it affects both eyes(Juta's, 2015)
The rod and cone cells degenerate and the retina becomes adherent to the choroid, accompanied by retinal and optic nerve atrophy
There is no treatment, the condition results in blindness, educate and prepare the patient, both physically and psychologically, for the ultimate end which is blindness