This article will explore present treatment options for dry AMD, including the AREDS 2 formula and vitamin D supplementation, as well as consider what the future may hold, from complement system inhibitors to stem-cell-derived RPE cells to visual cycle modulators.
Reactive Arthritis (RA), formerly known as Reiter’s Syndrome, refers to non-septic joint inflammation that develops in reaction to an infection in another part of the body. RA is often characterized by a classic triad of symptoms: inflammation of multiple asymmetric joints usually in the lower limbs, inflammation of the eyes in the form of conjunctivitis or uveitis and urethritis in men or cervicitis in women. These three symptoms may occur separately, all at once or not at all.
Herpes Zoster (HZ) is a viral infection of an individual nerve and its corresponding dermatome following reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). Approximately 1 in 4 people will develop herpes zoster in their lifetime, with incidence and severity increasing with age. Other important risk factors for VZV include an immunocompromised state, certain comorbidities, psychological factors and female sex. This article presents a case of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus with ocular involvement in an immunocompromised 64-year-old male patient.
Idiopathic macular holes (MHs) are most prevalent in the sixth and seventh decade of life with approximately two-thirds of patients being female, and can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Although the aetiology is unknown, a range of risk factors have been proposed including; myopia, retinal detachment, hypertension and diabetic retinopathy.
A 64-year-old lady presented to the emergency department with a headache and bilateral visual loss. She had recently visited France for two months to spend time with family, and had returned to the United Kingdom one week previously. The headache had developed around 2 weeks ago and whilst still on holiday, coming on suddenly.
With increasing specialisation and multidisciplinary approaches to healthcare, referrals are becoming an every present part of working in any speciality. Despite the daily occurrence of the task of referring a patient, referrals are commonly cited as a challenging task by junior doctors. This challenging nature is demonstrated in the often anecdotally mentioned complaint amongst doctors of receiving inappropriate referrals.
Traditional iris implants that are commonly available are rigid, requiring large incisions with associated risks of scarring, astigmatism, infection and poor healing (Thiagalingam et al., 2008). Furthermore, they do not replicate the patient’s natural eye colour and are therefore less desirable from a cosmetic point of view. Custom made iris implants are now growingly available and provide an exciting alternative.
This article is a guide to help you prepare for the Duke Elder exam. The Duke Elder Exam is an undergraduate award exam available to medical students in the UK and Ireland. If you are even slightly considering ophthalmology as a career you should sit the exam because it is worth application points which you simply cannot get after graduation. This is especially important when considering how competitive the application process is.
Posterior IOL dislocation is a complication of cataract surgery which can present many years after the initial procedure with an incidence rate as high as 3%. Weak zonular fibres are a major cause of IOL dislocation. Late onset dislocation is associated with progressive zonular weakening whereas zonular rupture is seen in early dislocation.
This article aims to help the reader understand the serious and potentially sight-threating causes of red eye. With an increased demand on hospital eye services, more patients with eye symptoms are being seen in primary care settings. Therefore, it is extremely important for primary care physicians to know when to refer urgently for specialist assessment