One Minute in Ophthalmology Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vitamin A

Xerophthalmia is the term reserved to cover all ocular manifestations of vitamin A deficiency. Night blindness is the earliest symptom of xerophthalmia in children. Other manifestations are corneal xerosis and keratomalacia. Vitamin A supplements are to be given as treatment.

Answer: Dacryoadenitis

It can be caused by the blockage of the duct between the gland and the nose. It usually presents with a swelling and watering from the eyes. An infection can occur if it remains untreated.

Dacryocystorhinostomy is the surgery of choice in chronic cases. In this surgery, incisions are in the side of the nose to allow the flow of tears into the nose.

Answer: Stye

Stye occurs on the eyelids. It is usually caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. It infects the glands of Zeish and the lash follicle to cause a stye. Recurrent styes are commonly seen in patients with diabetes and chronic blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).

Answer: Ptosis

Drooping of the eyelid more than the normal 2 mm is called ptosis. The two types of ptosis are congenital and acquired. Congenital is already present at birth. Acquired ptosis has causes like lid trauma, myasthenia gravis, aortic aneurysms and multiple sclerosis.

Answer: Squint

A misalignment of the visual axes of the two eyes is called squint. Types of squint are apparent squint, latent squint, concomitant squint and incomitant squint. Another type of squint called paralytic squint shows symptoms such as double vision, confusion, nausea, vertigo and ocular deviation.

Answer: Night blindness

The most common cause is vitamin A deficiency. Retinitis pigmentosa, a disease which causes pigment formation on the retina also causes night blindness. Congenitally high myopia is another cause.

Hamarlopia is day blindness!

Answer: True

Many systemic diseases have manifestations in the eye. AIDS leads to opportunistic infections, some of which have ocular manifestations. Some of them are herpes zoster ophthalmicus, toxoplasmosis, fungal corneal ulcers, cytomegalovirus retinitis, Kaposi's sarcoma and cryptococcal infections.

Answer: True

Yes, there is a disease called retinal detachment. It is the separation of the neurosensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium. Tractional retinal detachment, exudative retinal detachment and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment are its types. It can be caused due to inflammation, infection and trauma. Altered vision is a very common symptom.

Answer: Open and closed angle

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that are characterized by damage to the optic nerves which is progressive. It may or may not be associated with an increase in intra-ocular pressure, which can be measured using a tonometer. Types of glaucoma are open angle and closed angle glaucoma. Primary and secondary glaucoma are also common. Usually a trabeculectomy is done for glaucoma.

In this surgery, the trabecular meshwork of the eye which lies close to the ciliary body, is removed along with other structures to restore normal aqueous flow and restore the intra-ocular pressure to normal values.

Answer: Age

Cataract is the formation of opacity in the lens of the eye. It usually occurs in old age but can be congenitally seen. Diabetics and hypertensives are at high risk of cataracts. Progressive defective vision is the main symptom and can cause complete blindness if untreated. Extraction of the cataract and placement of an intra-ocular lens is the treatment for cataracts. Types of cataracts are cortical, nuclear, mature and immature cataracts.