The nurse is caring for a client with Graves' disease who has exophthalmos. Which of the following actions shouldbe included in the plan of care?
A)Apply eye patches to protect the cornea from irritation.
B)Place cold packs on the eyes to relieve pain and swelling.
C)Elevate the head of the client's bed to reduce periorbital fluid.
D)Teach the client to blink every few seconds to lubricate the cornea.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The client should sit upright as much as possible to promote fluid drainage from the periorbital area. With exophthalmos the client is unable to close the eyes completely. Lubrication of the eyes, rather than eye patches, will protect the eyes from developing corneal scarring. The swelling of the eye is not caused by excessive blood flow to the eye, so cold packs will not be helpful.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client with Graves' Disease