Question 1

A patient comes into the emergency department with manifestations of retinal detachment.What should the nurse do to minimize this patient's eye movements?

Accepted Answer

Loosely covering both eyes helps to minimize eye movements by reducing the stimuli that can cause the eyes to move, which is important in cases of retinal detachment.

Question 2

The nurse suspects that a patient has undiagnosed hyperopia.What did the nurse assess to come to this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a condition in which a person can see distant objects more clearly than objects that are up close. This is likely the reason for the patient's symptom of blurred vision when trying to focus on near objects. The patient may not necessarily have difficulty focusing on objects held close to the face, as they can still see them clearly. Squinting and headaches are not specific symptoms for hyperopia and can be present in other vision conditions or unrelated health issues.

Question 3

The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from cataract removal surgery.Which action should the nurse take to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP)?

Accepted Answer

Elevating the head of the bed 45 degrees helps to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract removal surgery. Restricting fluids or administering mydriatic eye drops do not typically reduce IOP, and positioning on the operative side could increase pressure on that eye.

Question 4

During a vision test,the nurse notes that a patient has decreased peripheral vision of both eyes.Which health problem should the nurse suspect that this patient is experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Primary open-angle glaucoma is a common type of glaucoma that can cause gradual vision loss, including decreased peripheral vision. It is the most likely type of glaucoma to cause this symptom, as opposed to acute angle glaucoma which can cause sudden onset symptoms, or normal-tension glaucoma which may not always present with peripheral vision loss. Secondary glaucoma can also cause peripheral vision loss, but there is not enough information provided to suspect this as the cause in this case.

Question 5

It is documented in the medical record that a patient has a rhegmatogenous detached retina.How should this diagnosis be explained to the patient?

Accepted Answer

Rhegmatogenous detached retina occurs when vitreous fluid moves under the retina and separates it from the pigmented cell layer. This can happen due to natural aging or from trauma to the eye. This separation causes vision loss and is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment.

Question 6

The nurse notes that a patient is diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma.What diagnostic test would have been used to diagnose this health problem?

Accepted Answer

Tonometry is the diagnostic test used to measure the intraocular pressure and diagnose primary open-angle glaucoma. MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound are not typically used to diagnose this condition.

Question 7

The nurse is planning care for a patient with an astigmatism.What action should the nurse take to reduce this patient's headaches and blurred vision?

Accepted Answer

Wearing corrective lenses while awake can help reduce the symptoms of astigmatism such as headaches and blurred vision. This is because corrective lenses help adjust the shape of the eye's cornea, improving the way light enters the eye and reducing the distortion that causes symptoms. Applying cool compresses, removing corrective lenses, or massaging the eye canthus will not directly address the underlying problem in astigmatism.

Question 8

A patient with macular degeneration is being treated with verteporfin (Visudyne).What should the nurse emphasize in the patient teaching in order to reduce the risk of complications from this treatment?

Accepted Answer

Verteporfin is a photosensitizing agent, and exposure to light can activate the drug, leading to skin damage. Therefore, patients must avoid exposure to both indoor and outdoor light for five days after treatment to prevent complications.

Question 9

A patient contemplating cataract surgery asks if there are any risk factors.How should the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Although cataract surgery is generally safe, there are potential risks involved, including the risk of a detached retina. Other risks may include infection, bleeding, vision loss or changes, and complications related to anesthesia. However, serious complications from cataract surgery are rare.

Question 10

A patient is demonstrating signs of a detached retina.What is the reason this occurred?

Accepted Answer

A detached retina occurs when the inner layers of the retina separate from the underlying support tissue, causing disruption in vision. This can be caused by trauma to the eye, nearsightedness, aging, or other underlying eye conditions.

Question 11

The nurse is evaluating teaching provided to a patient with bacterial conjunctivitis.Which patient statement indicates that additional teaching is required?

Accepted Answer

Placing a towel in the bathroom could increase the spread of the infection. It is recommended to use disposable paper towels until the infection has resolved. Therefore, additional teaching is required to ensure the patient understands proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Question 12

While reviewing collected data the nurse notes that a patient has been newly diagnosed with myopia.What information in the patient's history might have contributed to this refractive error?

Accepted Answer

Working for 30 years as a tailor may have contributed to myopia due to prolonged near work, which can lead to increased axial length and refractive error. The other choices do not have a known association with myopia.

Question 13

The nurse notes that a patient known to the community clinic was unable to recognize the health-care provider.What health problem should the nurse suspect is occurring with this patient?

Accepted Answer

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects the central part of the retina, which is responsible for seeing fine details. As a result, patients with macular degeneration may not be able to recognize faces or familiar objects. Cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal abrasions do not typically cause difficulty in recognizing people.

Question 14

A patient seeks treatment for a corneal abrasion that occurred the previous week.What should the nurse expect to be prescribed to reduce this patient's risk of developing a complication?

Accepted Answer

A tetanus vaccination may be prescribed if the abrasion was caused by a potentially contaminated object, to prevent tetanus infection.

Question 15

The nurse suspects that a patient is developing a cataract.What finding did the nurse use to make this clinical decision?

Accepted Answer

Double vision in one eye is a common early symptom of cataracts, as the cloudy lens causes light to scatter and split images. Itching, tearing, and redness are not typically associated with cataracts.

Question 16

The nurse is visiting the home of a patient recovering from laser trabeculoplasty.Which observation made by the nurse increases this patient's risk of developing a postoperative complication?

Accepted Answer

Picking up a 3-year-old grandchild increases the risk of increased intraocular pressure and subsequent complications after laser trabeculoplasty. Lifting heavy objects should be avoided for at least a week after the procedure to prevent complications. Taking a daily laxative, washing hands before applying eye drops, and applying pressure to the lacrimal duct after applying eye drops are all appropriate measures to promote healing and prevent infection after the procedure.

Question 17

A patient has been experiencing a gradual loss of central vision.Which tool should the nurse use when assessing this patient?

Accepted Answer

The Amsler grid is used to assess central vision loss by having the patient focus on a central dot while observing the surrounding grid for any distortions or missing areas. The Jaeger card is used to assess near vision, the Snellen chart is used to assess distance vision, and the Ishihara chart is used to assess color blindness.

Question 18

The nurse is reviewing teaching provided to a patient with glaucoma.Which patient statement indicates that teaching has been effective?

Accepted Answer

The statement "I should call my doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications" indicates that the patient understands the importance of checking with their doctor before taking any medication that could interact with their glaucoma medication. A, B, and C are all incorrect statements that demonstrate a misunderstanding of glaucoma and its treatment.

Question 19

A patient is diagnosed with a corneal abrasion.Which diagnostic test was used to confirm this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Fluorescein stain is commonly used to diagnose corneal abrasions. The patient's eye is stained with fluorescein dye which will highlight any abrasions or irregularities on the surface of the cornea when viewed under a blue light. MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound are not typically used in the diagnosis of corneal abrasions.

Question 20

A patient has watery eye discharge affecting both eyes.Which health problem should the nurse suspect this patient is experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Watery eye discharge affecting both eyes is most likely a symptom of conjunctivitis, a common viral or bacterial infection of the eye. Cataracts, eye trauma, and corneal abrasions typically present with different symptoms such as blurred vision or pain, and are not usually associated with watery eye discharge.

Quiz 46: Coordinating Care for Patients With Visual Disorders