MD III Class of 2023
1
st
June 2021
Dr. Frank, FCOphthECSA
Session 5
INTRODUCTION
•Three forms are recognized (primarily a function of the Conesystem:
•SPATIAL ACUITY:ability to resolve 2 points in space
•Location and Brightness effect
•Assessed using Snellen eye chart-relative to ability of the normal population to
distinguish the letter at 6 meters (6/6 vision is normal)
•TEMPORAL ACUITY:ability to distinguish visual events in time
•SPECTRAL ACUITY:ability to distinguish differences in the wavelength of the stimuli
INTRODUCTION CONT’D…
•Human eye is a complex optical instrument
•Properties may vary from person to person
•Several refractive surfaces with different refractive index
VISUAL ACUITY (VA)
•In the visual system, Acuityrefers to the’ability to discriminate
fine details of the visual scene’
•An objective measure of what the person can see
•Tested at 6m/20ft using Snellen Charts: very little
accommodation
•Each eye tested separately, OD first
•Pinhole test (PH): simple optical test to detect refractive
errors
•Need for Near vision and Distance vision testing
•Is part of routine examination-all patients
6/7/2021 4
REFRACTIVE SURFACES OF THE EYE
•Air/cornea interface
•Cornea/aqueous
•Aqueous/anterior surface of the lens
•Posterior surface of the lens/vitreous
•But the major refracting surfaces
•Cornea and Lens
REFRACTION AT THE CORNEA
•The light entering the eye is refracted markedly at the anterior
surface of the cornea.
•Because of its curvature
•The RI difference between air(1) and
the cornea (1.37).
•The optical power of the human cornea is 40-45D
REFRACTION AT THE LENS
•The light undergoes little further refraction until it
reaches the lens at both surfaces of which is refracted.
•Lens makes sure the rays of light come to focus on the
retina.
•It focuses both near and distant objects by changing its
shape a process called accommodation
•The optical power of the human lens is 16-20D
C
EMMETROPIC EYE
•An eye without RE
•Parallel rays of light are brought to focus on the fovea without
the use of accommodation
AMETROPICEYE
•An Eye with Refractive Errors
•Refractive state of the eye is determined by Four
components:
•Corneal power (Mean, 43D)
•ACD (mean,3.4mm)
•Crystalline lens power (mean, 21D)
•Axial length (mean, 24)
REFRACTIVE ERRORS
•Occurs when the eye cannot clearly focus the images from the
outside world.
•The result of refractive errors is blurred vision, which is
sometimes so severe that it causes visual impairment.
•Uncorrected refractive error accounts for half of the global
burden of avoidable vision impairment and nearly a third of the
global burden of avoidable blindness.
•WHO estimates that 153 million people worldwide live with
visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive errors.
CAUSES OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS
•Axial length
•Curvature
•Index
•Displacement of refractive surfaces
DIAGNOSIS OF R.E
•History from patient: Cant see far/near/headaches/blurry
•Physical Examination: VA, IOP
•Retinoscope
•Pin Hole (For Screening)
•SLE
•Fundoscopy
•CVFT
Parallel rays of light come to focus in front of the
retina
Causes;
Long axial length=Axial myopia
Increase curvature of Cornea
Keratoconus: Curvature myopia
Increase refractive index of the
Lens (Index myopia)
Swollen Lens
Displacement-eg. Lens sublaxation
CLINICAL FEATURES
•Poor distant vision hence shortsighted
•Squinting
•Eyelid squeezing/ blinking
•Asthenopicsymptoms
•Eye fatigue
•Headache
•Photophobia
oPathological myopia(progressive)
omore than 6D
o2% of population
oaffects more females X2
Complications; Retinal hole, RD, degeneration
Hereditary: 10 -25%
Optical power of cornea in different planes is not equal
Parallel beam of light focused at different planes on the
retina
Causes:
Variation in refractive power in different
meridians
irregularities in the corneal curvatures
Corneal scar,pterygium
Keratoconus
Chalazion
lens displacement/tilting
Astigmatism
SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
Symptoms
•Poor vision can be either at
distant or near
•Asthenopia
•Fatigue
•Headache
Treatment
•Cylinder lenses
•Spectacles
•Contact lens
•Corneal transplant
•Refractive Surgery
APHAKIA
•Absence of the natural lens
•Causes-surgical removal-commonest cause.
-trauma
-congenital absence
Symptoms-eye becomes highly hyperopic
-poor vision
-loss of accommodation
Treatment-aphakicspectacles/contact lens/IOL in P. Capsule,
Iris/Scleral fixation, AC
PRESBYOPIA
Definition: loss of accommodation with age due to loss of
elasticity of the lens and weakness in the ciliary muscles
Symptoms –begin at the age of 40 years
-Inability to read small prints initially at near
-worse in dim illumination
Treatment-reading glasses (convex lenses)
SUMMARY
•Major Refraction surfaces of the eye?
•Types of Lenses
•Types of RE
•Causes of RE
•Commonest?
•Diagnosis?
•Management?
•RE due to Old age?
Questions/Additions??
What is your RE??
READING ASSIGNMENT
1. Definition of Blindness and ‘WHO’ Visual
impairment categories
2. Other Visual acuity notations
3. Mobile Visual acuity devices
4. Digital Eye syndrome and Prevention
Thank you…
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR OPHTHALMOLOGY
1. Brad Bowling, Kanski'sClinical Ophthalmology-A systematic
approach
2. Vaughan and Asbury's General Ophthalmology
3. Comprehensive Opthalmologyby A. K Khurana
4. ABC of Eyes by Shah and Khaw
5. N.R.Galloway, et al -Common Eye Diseases and their
Management
6. Eye Diseases in Hot climates
7. Basic Ophthalmology: Essential for Medical Students