Ray of Light Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cataract

Cataract causes the lens material to thicken over time. The main symptoms are reduction in visual acuity, noticeable glare and diplopia. Treatment is usually surgeries like intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and phacoemulsification. There are many types of cataracts including congenital cataract and senile cataract.

Answer: False

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that causes damage to the optic nerve and is usually associated with an increase in intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eyes and orbit). There are two types - open angle and closed angle glaucoma. Main symptoms are loss of vision and changes to the optic disc in the eye. Open angle glaucoma is painless while the closed angle variation manifests with pain. Medications like timolol and acetazolamide form the first line of treatment. Surgeries like trabeculectomy can also be performed.

Answer: Diabetic retinopathy

One of the major complications of diabetes is a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy. It is due to microvascular changes in the blood vessels of the eye, specifically of the retina. Symptoms include seeing spots and blurred vision. Vigilant monitoring of blood sugar in diabetics is said to a way to prevent it. Vitrectomy can be carried out and photocoagulation is also a method of management.

Answer: Chlamydia trachomatis

Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is an infectious disease whose line of transmission is primarily and most commonly from infected mother to child. Other routes of transmission are direct contact with contaminated bodily secretions (mainly from eyes and throat) and also with contaminated objects like clothes and towels. Main symptoms are eye discharge, swollen lymph nodes and corneal ulcers. Antibiotics are usually administered to treat trachoma.

Answer: Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis is an eye disease caused by a nematode called Onchocerca volvulus. There are bacteria in this organism that actually cause the disease. These bacteria live in a symbiotic relationship with the nematode. Treatment usually involves antibiotics like ivermectin.

Answer: True

Methanol poisoning can cause blindness among other complications like convulsions, cramps, pancreatitis, breathing difficulty, etc. Medical advice is that a person who has consumed methanol should not be made vomit but to be taken immediately to the hospital. Blindness may be permanent depending on amount of alcohol in the body. Methanol or methyl alcohol is found in items such as windshield wiper fluid and paint thinners.

Answer: Optic neuritis

Inflammation of the optic nerve is called optic neuritis. It is a demyelinating disorder which is usually associated with multiple sclerosis. Acute pain and loss of vision are the main symptoms of optic neuritis. Treatment includes administration of steroids and other immunomodulators.

Answer: Cat's eye reflex

Retinoblastoma is a disease with an early onset and can manifest before the age of five. It is a cancer that forms in the retina and can affect both eyes. Symptoms include eye pain, loss of vision and strabismus. 'Cat's eye reflex' is used to describe a certain whiteness that occurs in the eye due to retinoblastoma. This whiteness is also called leukocoria.

Answer: False

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited disease that can lead to blindness in very advanced cases. Most cases have peripheral loss of vision that gradually deteriorates. There is a pigment formation over the retina that gradually spreads. It can be autosomal dominant or recessive or even an X-linked disorder. Medical care includes vitamin A, acetazolamide and calcium channel blockers. Transplantation of the retina can also be done.

Answer: Iridectomy

Evisceration implies retaining the extra ocular muscles of the eye and other orbital contents but removing the iris, cornea, aqueous humor, lens, etc.

Enucleation implies removal of the entire eye but leaving eye lids, eyebrows, lacrimal apparatus, etc. It is usually done in retinoblastoma and other tumors of the eye.

Exenteration implies complete removal of eye along with adjacent fat and eye lids.

Iridectomy is the removal of the iris or a part of it. It is one of the treatment methods for glaucoma.