A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old with a new diagnosis of strabismus. Which intervention should the nurse anticipate?

Question

A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old with a new diagnosis of strabismus.  Which intervention should the nurse anticipate?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecbb05_caf4_bd55_b433_fd2fbb6a92e6_MD0009_00 Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a disorder involving misalignment of the eyes caused by a congenital defect or acquired weakness of an eye muscle. One eye may appear deviated inward (esotropia) or outward (exotropia). When the visual axes are not in alignment, the brain perceives 2 images (diplopia) and suppresses the weaker image to compensate. If left untreated by age 4-6, permanent reduction or loss of visual acuity in the affected eye (amblyopia) can occur. Initial treatments vary depending on the underlying cause. One common treatment is to strengthen the muscles of the weaker eye by wearing a patch over the stronger eye or using special corrective lenses. If nonsurgical methods are unsuccessful, surgical intervention to shorten or reposition an eye muscle for more effective movement may be required. (Option A) The use of eye drops in the abnormal eye is not an effective treatment for strabismus. Some uncommon treatments of strabismus may include drops in the normal/stronger eye to blur the vision and increase use of the weaker eye. Eye drops are more commonly used to treat glaucoma. (Option B) Monitoring of IOP would be necessary in a client with glaucoma. Strabismus is not associated with abnormal IOP. (Option D) Surgical repair of strabismus involves changes to the muscles controlling the eye and does not utilize a laser. Laser surgery is an appropriate treatment for refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Educational objective: Strabismus is a disorder involving misalignment of the eyes (eg, one eye deviated inward or outward) caused by a congenital or acquired defect of an eye muscle. Treatment of strabismus may include wearing a patch over the stronger eye to develop strength in the weaker eye.

A Nurse Is Caring for a 2-Year-Old with a New