Fatima Iqbal
The University of Faisalabad, Pakistan
Title: Mirror on the wall, can optometrist really save a life, or just the sight?
Biography
Biography: Fatima Iqbal
Abstract
Background: Eyes are the windows to one’s soul. Through these windows optometrists can peep into the souls of their patients. We can tell them what they know what they do not, not only about their eyes but the systemic health also. Sometimes an ophthalmic finding may be the earliest manifestation of a systemic disorder or may precede the classical clinical signs and symptoms. Eye care doctors, by identifying such findings, may not only save the vision and eye but also the lives of their patients.
Aim: To present a series of cases with ophthalmic findings associated with systemic disorders.
Cases: Two real life cases of multisystem disorders with initial ocular presentation are discussed. Case-1: was a 16 years old girl with complaint of transient visual blur. Comprehensive ocular examination raised the suspicion of underlying hematopoietic disorder. Multispecialty workup confirmed the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. Case-2 was a 23 year, only eyed female. She had received a cryotherapy and anti-VEGF for a presumed Coats disease OD ending up in phthisis bulbi. Optometric exam suggested multisystem cancer disorder. Investigations further confirmed the diagnosis of Von-Hipple Lindau disease.
Results & Discussion: Optometrists can identify potentially dangerous systemic disorders before the development of specific systemic symptoms/signs.
Conclusion: The earlier detection and timely referral to the appropriate specialties, thus, improve the prognosis, life expectancy and help avoiding complications associated with late diagnosis. Also enhancing scope of practice of optometrists and finding professional identity.