Page 1933 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

importance of hand washing and
measures to prevent or decrease IOP,
such as bending over, coughing,
straining, and rubbing the eye.
b. Stress to the client that care after
surgery requires instillation of various
types of eye drops several times a day
for 2 to 4 weeks.
c. Administer eye medications
preoperatively, including mydriatics
and cycloplegics as prescribed.

5. Postoperative interventions

a. Elevate the head of the bed 30 to 45
degrees.
b. Turn the client to the back or
nonoperative side.
c. Maintain an eye patch as prescribed;
orient the client to the environment.
d. Position the client’s personal
belongings to the nonoperative side.
e. Use side rails for safety (per agency
guidelines).
f. Assist with ambulation.
6. Client education (Box 56-2)

E. Glaucoma

1. Description
a. A group of ocular diseases resulting in
increased IOP
b. IOP is the fluid (aqueous humor)
pressure within the eye (normal IOP is
10 to 21 mm Hg).
c. Increased IOP results from inadequate
drainage of aqueous humor from the
canal of Schlemm or overproduction of
aqueous humor.
d. The condition damages the optic nerve
and can result in blindness.
e. The gradual loss of visual fields may go
unnoticed, because central vision is
unaffected.
2. Types
a. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)
results from obstruction to outflow of
aqueous humor and is the most
common type.

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