Page 1931 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

treat myopia.
C. Legal blindness
1. Description: In the client who is legally blind, the best
visual acuity with corrective lenses in the better eye is
20/200 or less, or the visual field is no greater than 20
degrees in its widest diameter in the better eye.

2. Interventions

a. When speaking to the client who has
limited sight or is blind, the nurse
should use a normal tone of voice.
b. Alert the client when approaching.
c. Orient the client to the environment.
d. Use a focal point and provide further
orientation to the environment from
that focal point; ensure that the client
has a clear pathway.
e. Allow the client to touch objects in the
room.
f. Use the clock placement of foods on the
meal tray to orient the client.
g. Promote independence as much as is
possible.
h. Provide radios, televisions, and clocks
that give the time orally, or provide a
Braille watch.
i. When ambulating, allow the client to
grasp the nurse’s arm at the elbow; the
nurse keeps her or his arm close to the
body so that the client can detect the
direction of movement.
j. Instruct the client to remain 1 step
behind the nurse when ambulating.
k. Instruct the client in the use of the cane
for the blind, which is differentiated
from other canes by its straight shape
and white color with red tip.
l. Instruct the client that the cane is held in
the dominant hand several inches
(centimeters) off the floor.
m. Instruct the client that the cane sweeps
the ground where the client’s foot will
be placed next to determine the
presence of obstacles.
D. Cataracts (Fig. 56-1)
1. Description
a. A cataract is an opacity of the lens that
distorts the image projected onto the

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