SLK - Testing: Which tests are used to evaluate SLK?

Prepare for the NBEO Part III Test with comprehensive questions on Patient Encounters and Performance Skills. Answer multiple choice and scenario-based questions with explanations. Ensure success on your optometry exam!

Multiple Choice

SLK - Testing: Which tests are used to evaluate SLK?

Explanation:
When assessing suspected SLK, focus on the anterior surface of the eye, especially the upper lid and superior bulbar conjunctiva. Evert the upper lid to look for papillae along the superior palpebral conjunctiva, a common finding in SLK. Use vital stains to map surface damage: fluorescein sodium highlights epithelial defects on the cornea, often more noticeable in the superior region, while Lissamine green stains devitalized conjunctival cells and mucous, helping reveal conjunctival involvement. Together, lid eversion with these stains provides direct evidence of SLK-related surface changes. Tests that examine the posterior segment (fundus exam, OCT) or evaluate intraocular pressure and visual fields do not specifically evaluate SLK, so they’re not the primary tests for this condition.

When assessing suspected SLK, focus on the anterior surface of the eye, especially the upper lid and superior bulbar conjunctiva. Evert the upper lid to look for papillae along the superior palpebral conjunctiva, a common finding in SLK. Use vital stains to map surface damage: fluorescein sodium highlights epithelial defects on the cornea, often more noticeable in the superior region, while Lissamine green stains devitalized conjunctival cells and mucous, helping reveal conjunctival involvement. Together, lid eversion with these stains provides direct evidence of SLK-related surface changes. Tests that examine the posterior segment (fundus exam, OCT) or evaluate intraocular pressure and visual fields do not specifically evaluate SLK, so they’re not the primary tests for this condition.

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