Conjunctivitis  Commonly known as pink eye  Inflammation of conjunctival membranes in front of the eye  Symptoms are redness, pain, swelling, and discharge  Highly contagious  Rx: antibiotic eye drops

Glaucoma  Excessive intraoccular pressure causing destruction of the retina and atrophy of the optic nerve  Caused by overproduction of aqueous humor, lack of drainage, or aging  Symptoms develop gradually—mild aching, loss of peripheral vision, halos around light

Tonometer A Tonometer is an instrument use to measure intraocular tension or pressure.  An increase in pressure often indicates glaucoma  Treatments for glaucoma include drugs or laser surgery

Cataracts  Lens of eyes gradually becomes cloudy  Frequently occurs in people over 70  Causes a painful, gradual blurring and loss of vision  Pupil turns from black to milky white  Rx – surgical removal of the lens

Sty (Hordeolum)  Abscess at the base of an eyelash ( in sebaceous gland)  Symptoms – red, painful and swollen  Rx – warm, wet compresses, antibiotic ointments and occasionally incision and drainage

Color-Blindess  Ishihara color plates are used to test for color blindness.  Cones affected  Genetic disorder that is carried by female and transmitted to males

Presbyopia  “ Oldsightedness”  Lens loses elasticity, cannot focus on close or distant objects  Usually occurs after age 40  Rx - Bifocals

Hyperopia  Farsighted  Light focuses behind the retina because the eyeball is too short  Objects must be moved farther away from the eye to be seen clearer  Convex lenses help

Myopia  Nearsighted  Eyeball too long  Light focuses in front of the retina (in normal eye light focuses on the retina)  Concave lenses help  Surgical Tx –– laser therapy used to reshape the anterior cornea of the eye.

Astigmatism  Irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, causing blurred vision and eye strain  Rx – corrective lenses

Strabismus  Strabismus (cross-eye)  Eye muscles do not coordinate their actions  If not corrected early, visual centers in the brain will learn to ignore information from one eye causing permanent blindness in affected eye  Usually in children  Rx – eye exercises or surgery

Diploplia  Double-vision

Eye Injury Glass or fragment in eye – cover eye and seek medical help, do not remove the object

Diagnosis  OPHTHALMOSCOPE – instrument for viewing inside the eye  SNELLEN EYE CHART – chart that uses letters or symbols in calibrated heights to check for vision defects

Loud noise and hearing loss  Hearing is fragile  Loud noise over a period of time can cause hearing loss. (Deafness)

OTITIS MEDIA  Infection of the middle ear  Often a complication of a common cold in children  Rx – antibiotics  If chronic or if fluid builds up – MYRINGOTOMY (opening in the tympanic membrane) with tubes inserted will relieve the pressure

RHINITIS  Inflammation of the lining of the nose with nasal congestion, drainage, sneezing and itching  Caused by allergies, infection, fumes, odors, emotion, or drugs  Rx – eliminate causes, antihistamines