Oculopathies

Oculopathy is a broad term for diseases of the eye and visual pathways. It covers disorders affecting ocular structures from the cornea to the retina, as well as the optic nerve and related neural pathways. The term is used in clinical and research contexts to group diverse vision disorders.

Classification is typically by location or cause. Anatomic categories include anterior segment diseases (cornea, lens, iris), posterior segment diseases (retina, choroid, optic nerve), and orbital or neuromuscular disorders. Etiologic groups include congenital, inflammatory, infectious, vascular, degenerative, metabolic, traumatic, neoplastic, and toxic conditions.

Common oculopathies include glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa, uveitis, optic neuritis, and corneal or lens disorders. Many oculopathies have systemic associations or multisystem involvement.

Diagnosis relies on history and a comprehensive eye examination, including visual acuity, slit-lamp, and dilated fundus examination. Additional tests may include optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, corneal topography, and visual field testing, along with systemic evaluations for related conditions.

Management is disease-specific and may involve medications, laser or surgical therapy, or vision rehabilitation. Treatments may include anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapy for inflammatory oculopathies, anti-VEGF agents for neovascular diseases, and cataract, glaucoma, or retinal surgery when indicated. Prognosis varies with condition and stage.