Ophthalmic conditions and treatment pathways

What is adnexal?

This service treats the tissues surrounding the eye ball, including the eyelids, extra-ocular muscles, socket and tear system. Common conditions treated by clinicians in this service include: watery eye; droopy eyelids; in-turning eyelids; misdirected eye lashes causing corneal abrasion; thyroid eye disease; orbital tumours and fractures; and facial and lid tics (for example, blepharospasm).

Who is this video for?
This video is aimed at nurses, nursing associates and allied health professionals with an interest in ophthalmology, adnexal conditions, and the role of the specialist nurse within the adnexal service. 

What are the learning outcomes?

• to understand the anatomy and physiology of the eye in relation the adnexa
• to understand how adnexal conditions are diagnosed and monitored
• to recognise the specific needs of patients who are being treated with medication and/or surgery
• to gain insight into the role of the specialist nurse within adnexal service.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to a varied group of ocular disorders with different causes, all of which are associated with retinal nerve fibre layer loss (RNFL) and glaucomatous visual field changes. Glaucoma is a chronic condition and will require continuous lifelong monitoring and treatment. If glaucoma is undetected or insufficiently treated this will lead to progressive and permanent vision loss. Fortunately, prognosis is typically good if detected early and there are many treatments available to treat this condition including medication, laser and surgical intervention. Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma refers to the most common type of glaucoma in which the drainage angle is not occluded, and the eye pressure may be high or within normal range.

Who is this video for?

This video is aimed at nurses and allied health professionals with an interest in ophthalmology, glaucoma, and the specialist nurse role within the glaucoma service.

What are the learning outcomes?

• to understand the anatomy and physiology of the eye in relation to chronic open angle glaucoma
• to understand classifications how glaucoma is diagnosed and monitored
• to understand treatments offered for Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma
• to recognise the specific needs of patients who are being treated with medication and/or surgery
• to gain insight into the role of the specialist nurse within the glaucoma service.

What is vitreo-retinal?

Vitreo-retinal conditions refer to conditions that occur at the back of the eye for which surgical intervention is required, especially retinal detachment. Vitreo-retinal surgery refers to any operation to treat eye problems involving the retina, macula, and vitreous fluid. These include retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane and complications related to diabetic retinopathy.

Who is this video for?

This video is aimed at nurses and allied health professionals with an interest in ophthalmology, vitreo-retinal, and the role of the specialist nurse within the vitreo-retinal service.

What are the learning outcomes?

• to understand the anatomy and physiology of the eye in relation to vitreo-retinal conditions
• to understand how vitreo-retinal conditions are diagnosed, and monitored
• to understand treatments offered for vitreo-retinal conditions
• to recognise the specific needs of patients who are being treated with medication and/or surgery
• to gain insight into the role of the specialist nurse within the glaucoma service.

What is medical retina?

Medical retina refers to conditions at the back of the eye, which are treated medically using drugs, eye drops or lasers, and includes diabetic eye screening. These conditions include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessel blockages and inflammation at the back of the eye (uveitis).

Who is this video aimed at?

This video is aimed at nurses and allied health professionals with an interest in ophthalmology, medical retina, and the role of the specialist nurse within the medical retinal service.

What are the learning outcomes?

• to understand the anatomy and physiology of the eye in relation medical retina conditions
• to understand how medical retina conditions is diagnosed and monitored
• to understand treatments offered for medical retina conditions
• to recognise the specific needs of patients who are being treated with medication and/or lasers
• to gain insight into the role of the specialist nurse within ophthalmology.

What is emergency ophthalmology?

Emergency ophthalmology encompasses all ophthalmic sub-specialties. Patients may present to ophthalmic emergency department, minor injury unit or general Accident and Emergency departments with a range of conditions that require an appropriate assessment including history taking, clinical examination, treatment and / or referral to a specialist ophthalmic unit. Triage is a process of identifying the most urgent cases to enable prompt management.

Who is this video aimed at?

This video is aimed at nurses, nursing associates and allied health professionals who may be required to assess a patient presenting for emergency eye care, and the role of the specialist nurse within the Accident and Emergency service.

What are the learning outcomes?

• to understand the term Triage and how it is utilised in ophthalmology
• to develop an awareness of alternative service provision depending on local referral pathways
• to be able to identity true ophthalmic emergencies and what are less urgent or routine referrals
• to gain insight into the role of the specialist nurse within the Accident and Emergency service.