- Section 1 Patients and their treatment
- Section 2 Background to medicine
- Section 3 Cell biology
- Section 4 Immunological mechanisms
- Section 5 Principles of clinical oncology
- Section 6 Old age medicine
- Section 7 Pain and palliative care
- Section 8 Infectious diseases
- Section 9 Sexually transmitted diseases
- Section 10 Environmental medicine, occupational medicine, and poisoning
- Section 11 Nutrition
- Section 12 Metabolic disorders
- Section 13 Endocrine disorders
- Section 14 Medical disorders in pregnancy
- Section 15 Gastroenterological disorders
- Section 16 Cardiovascular disorders
- Section 17 Critical care medicine
- Section 18 Respiratory disorders
- Section 19 Rheumatological disorders
- Section 20 Disorders of the skeleton
- Section 21 Disorders of the kidney and urinary tract
- Section 22 Haematological disorders
- Section 23 Disorders of the skin
- Section 24 Neurological disorders
- Section 25 Disorders of the eye
- 25.1 The eye in general medicine
- Section 26 Psychiatric and drug-related disorders
- Section 27 Forensic medicine
- Section 28 Sport and exercise medicine
- Section 29 Biochemistry in medicine
- Section 30 Acute medicine
(p. 6399) The eye in general medicine
- Chapter:
- (p. 6399) The eye in general medicine
- Author(s):
Tasanee Braithwaite
, Richard W. Lee
, and Peng T. Khaw
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198746690.003.0618
The integrity of ocular anatomy and physiology, the function of the visual system, and the perception of vision, our most prized sense, are intimately connected with our general health. Subtle visual signs and symptoms may therefore be the first manifestation of occult systemic disease. With a basic history and examination of the eyes and vision, the physician can narrow the differential diagnosis and ascertain whether there is any immediate threat to vision or even life. The major focus of this chapter is the eye in the context of a range of vascular, haematological, neoplastic, inflammatory, endocrine, genetic, metabolic, toxic, and nutritional disorders. This chapter also considers the leading causes of blindness globally, and common ocular presentations in primary care and general medical practice. Other isolated ocular conditions are excluded and neuro-ophthalmological conditions are referred to elsewhere in this book (Chapters 24.6.1 and 24.6.2).
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- Section 1 Patients and their treatment
- Section 2 Background to medicine
- Section 3 Cell biology
- Section 4 Immunological mechanisms
- Section 5 Principles of clinical oncology
- Section 6 Old age medicine
- Section 7 Pain and palliative care
- Section 8 Infectious diseases
- Section 9 Sexually transmitted diseases
- Section 10 Environmental medicine, occupational medicine, and poisoning
- Section 11 Nutrition
- Section 12 Metabolic disorders
- Section 13 Endocrine disorders
- Section 14 Medical disorders in pregnancy
- Section 15 Gastroenterological disorders
- Section 16 Cardiovascular disorders
- Section 17 Critical care medicine
- Section 18 Respiratory disorders
- Section 19 Rheumatological disorders
- Section 20 Disorders of the skeleton
- Section 21 Disorders of the kidney and urinary tract
- Section 22 Haematological disorders
- Section 23 Disorders of the skin
- Section 24 Neurological disorders
- Section 25 Disorders of the eye
- 25.1 The eye in general medicine
- Section 26 Psychiatric and drug-related disorders
- Section 27 Forensic medicine
- Section 28 Sport and exercise medicine
- Section 29 Biochemistry in medicine
- Section 30 Acute medicine