A patient comes to the ophthalmology clinic for an eye examination. The patient tells the nurse that he often sees floaters in his vision. How should the nurse best interpret this subjective assessment finding?
- A. This is a normal aging process of the eye.
- B. Glasses will minimize this phenomenon.
- C. The patient may be exhibiting signs of glaucoma.
- D. This may be a result of weakened ciliary muscles.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Floaters are common with aging due to vitreous humor changes casting shadows. They are not linked to glaucoma, ciliary muscle weakness, or correctable by glasses.
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A public health nurse is teaching a health promotion workshop that focuses on vision and eye health. What should this nurse cite as the most common causes of blindness and visual impairment among adults over the age of 40? Select all that apply.
- A. Diabetic retinopathy
- B. Trauma
- C. Macular degeneration
- D. Cytomegalovirus
- E. Glaucoma
Correct Answer: A,C,E
Rationale: Diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts are leading causes of blindness in adults over 40. Trauma and cytomegalovirus are less common.
The nurse should recognize the greatest risk for the development of blindness in which of the following patients?
- A. A 58-year-old Caucasian woman with macular degeneration
- B. A 28-year-old Caucasian man with astigmatism
- C. A 58-year-old African American woman with hyperopia
- D. A 28-year-old African American man with myopia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Macular degeneration, prevalent in older adults, is a leading cause of blindness. Astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia are refractive errors with lower blindness risk.
A patient has just arrived to the floor after an enucleation procedure following a workplace accident in which his left eye was irreparably damaged. Which of the following should the nurse prioritize during the patients immediate postoperative recovery?
- A. Teaching the patient about options for eye prostheses
- B. Teaching the patient to estimate depth and distance with the use of one eye
- C. Assessing and addressing the patients emotional needs
- D. Teaching the patient about his post-discharge medication regimen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Emotional support is critical after unexpected enucleation due to trauma. Teaching about prostheses, depth perception, or medications is important but secondary in the immediate postoperative period.
A patient presents at the ED after receiving a chemical burn to the eye. What would be the nurses initial intervention for this patient?
- A. Generously flush the affected eye with a dilute antibiotic solution.
- B. Generously flush the affected eye with normal saline or water.
- C. Apply a patch to the affected eye.
- D. Apply direct pressure to the affected eye.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate irrigation with saline or water flushes chemicals from the eye, minimizing damage. Antibiotics, patching, or pressure are inappropriate initial actions.
A patient has lost most of her vision as a result of macular degeneration. When attempting to meet this patients psychosocial needs, what nursing action is most appropriate?
- A. Encourage the patient to focus on her use of her other senses.
- B. Assess and promote the patients coping skills during interactions with the patient.
- C. Emphasize that her lifestyle will be unchanged once she adapts to her vision loss.
- D. Promote the patients hope for recovery.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Promoting coping skills supports psychosocial adjustment to vision loss from macular degeneration. Focusing on other senses or promising unchanged lifestyle may minimize the loss, and recovery is unlikely.
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