NUR 210 Exam 2: Questions & Answers
The nurse is conducting a visual examination. Which of these statements regarding visual pathways and
visual fields is true?
a. The right side of the brain interprets the vision for the right eye.
b. The image formed on the retina is upside down and reversed from its actual appearance in the outside
world.
c. Light rays are refracted through the transparent media of the eye before striking the pupil.
d. Light impulses are conducted through the optic nerve to the temporal lobes of the brain. - ANSWER:b.
The image formed on the retina is upside down and reversed from its actual appearance in the outside
world.
The nurse is testing a patients visual accommodation, which refers to which action?
a. Pupillary constriction when looking at a near object
b. Pupillary dilation when looking at a far object
c. Changes in peripheral vision in response to light
d. Involuntary blinking in the presence of bright light - ANSWER:a. Pupillary constriction when looking at
a near object
A patient has a normal pupillary light reflex. The nurse recognizes that this reflex indicates that:
a. The eyes converge to focus on the light.
b. Light is reflected at the same spot in both eyes.
c. The eye focuses the image in the center of the pupil.
d. Constriction of both pupils occurs in response to bright light. - ANSWER:d. Constriction of both pupils
occurs in response to bright light.
A mother asks when her newborn infants eyesight will be developed. The nurse should reply:
a. Vision is not totally developed until 2 years of age.
b. Infants develop the ability to focus on an object at approximately 8 months of age.
c. By approximately 3 months of age, infants develop more coordinated eye movements and can fixate
on an object.
d. Most infants have uncoordinated eye movements for the first year of life. - ANSWER:c. By
approximately 3 months of age, infants develop more coordinated eye movements and can fixate on an
object.
,10. The nurse is reviewing in age-related changes in the eye for a class. Which of these physiologic
changes is responsible for presbyopia?
a. Degeneration of the cornea
b. Loss of lens elasticity
c. Decreased adaptation to darkness
d. Decreased distance vision abilities - ANSWER:b. Loss of lens elasticity
11. Which of these assessment findings would the nurse expect to see when examining the eyes of a
black patient?
a. Increased night vision
b. Dark retinal background
c. Increased photosensitivity
d. Narrowed palpebral fissures - ANSWER:b. Dark retinal background
An ethnically based variability in the color of the iris and in retinal pigmentation exists, with darker irides
having darker retinas behind them.
12. A 52-year-old patient describes the presence of occasional floaters or spots moving in front of his
eyes. The nurse should:
a. Examine the retina to determine the number of floaters.
b. Presume the patient has glaucoma and refer him for further testing.
c. Consider these to be abnormal findings, and refer him to an ophthalmologist.
d. Know that floaters are usually insignificant and are caused by condensed vitreous fibers. - ANSWER:d.
Know that floaters are usually insignificant and are caused by condensed vitreous fibers.
The nurse is preparing to assess the visual acuity of a 16-year-old patient. How should the nurse
proceed?
a. Perform the confrontation test.
b. Ask the patient to read the print on a handheld Jaeger card.
c. Use the Snellen chart positioned 20 feet away from the patient.
d. Determine the patients ability to read newsprint at a distance of 12 to 14 inches. - ANSWER:c. Use the
Snellen chart positioned 20 feet away from the patient.
A patients vision is recorded as 20/30 when the Snellen eye chart is used. The nurse interprets these
results to indicate that:
a. At 30 feet the patient can read the entire chart.
,b. The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 30 feet.
c. The patient can read the chart from 20 feet in the left eye and 30 feet in the right eye.
d. The patient can read from 30 feet what a person with normal vision can read from 20 feet. -
ANSWER:b. The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 30 feet.
The top number indicates the distance the person is standing from the chart; the denominator gives the
distance at which a normal eye can see.
A patient is unable to read even the largest letters on the Snellen chart. The nurse should take which
action next?
a. Refer the patient to an ophthalmologist or optometrist for further evaluation.
b. Assess whether the patient can count the nurses fingers when they are placed in front of his or her
eyes.
c. Ask the patient to put on his or her reading glasses and attempt to read the Snellen chart again.
d. Shorten the distance between the patient and the chart until the letters are seen, and record that
distance. - ANSWER:d. Shorten the distance between the patient and the chart until the letters are seen,
and record that distance.
A patients vision is recorded as 20/80 in each eye. The nurse interprets this finding to mean that the
patient:
a. Has poor vision.
b. Has acute vision.
c. Has normal vision.
d. Is presbyopic. - ANSWER:a. Has poor vision.
The nurse is performing the diagnostic positions test. Normal findings would be which of these results?
a. Convergence of the eyes
b. Parallel movement of both eyes
c. Nystagmus in extreme superior gaze
d. Slight amount of lid lag when moving the eyes from a superior to an inferior position - ANSWER:b.
Parallel movement of both eyes
A 60-year-old man is at the clinic for an eye examination. The nurse suspects that he has ptosis of one
eye. How should the nurse check for this?
a. Perform the confrontation test.
b. Assess the individuals near vision.
, c. Observe the distance between the palpebral fissures.
d. Perform the corneal light test, and look for symmetry of the light reflex. - ANSWER:c. Observe the
distance between the palpebral fissures.
Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid that would be apparent by observing the distance between the
upper and lower eyelids. The confrontation test measures peripheral vision. Measuring near vision or the
corneal light test does not check for ptosis.
22. When assessing the pupillary light reflex, the nurse should use which technique?
a. Shine a penlight from directly in front of the patient, and inspect for pupillary constriction.
b. Ask the patient to follow the penlight in eight directions, and observe for bilateral pupil constriction.
c. Shine a light across the pupil from the side, and observe for direct and consensual pupillary
constriction.
d. Ask the patient to focus on a distant object. Then ask the patient to follow the penlight to
approximately 7 cm from the nose. - ANSWER:c. Shine a light across the pupil from the side, and observe
for direct and consensual pupillary constriction.
The nurse is assessing a patients eyes for the accommodation response and would expect to see which
normal finding?
a. Dilation of the pupils
b. Consensual light reflex
c. Conjugate movement of the eyes
d. Convergence of the axes of the eyes - ANSWER:d. Convergence of the axes of the eyes
A 2-week-old infant can fixate on an object but cannot follow a light or bright toy. The nurse would:
a. Consider this a normal finding.
b. Assess the pupillary light reflex for possible blindness.
c. Continue with the examination, and assess visual fields.
d. Expect that a 2-week-old infant should be able to fixate and follow an object. - ANSWER:a. Consider
this a normal finding
By 2 to 4 weeks an infant can fixate on an object. By the age of 1 month, the infant should fixate and
follow a bright light or toy.
The nurse is performing an eye-screening clinic at a daycare center. When examining a 2-year-old child,
the nurse suspects that the child has a lazy eye and should:
The nurse is conducting a visual examination. Which of these statements regarding visual pathways and
visual fields is true?
a. The right side of the brain interprets the vision for the right eye.
b. The image formed on the retina is upside down and reversed from its actual appearance in the outside
world.
c. Light rays are refracted through the transparent media of the eye before striking the pupil.
d. Light impulses are conducted through the optic nerve to the temporal lobes of the brain. - ANSWER:b.
The image formed on the retina is upside down and reversed from its actual appearance in the outside
world.
The nurse is testing a patients visual accommodation, which refers to which action?
a. Pupillary constriction when looking at a near object
b. Pupillary dilation when looking at a far object
c. Changes in peripheral vision in response to light
d. Involuntary blinking in the presence of bright light - ANSWER:a. Pupillary constriction when looking at
a near object
A patient has a normal pupillary light reflex. The nurse recognizes that this reflex indicates that:
a. The eyes converge to focus on the light.
b. Light is reflected at the same spot in both eyes.
c. The eye focuses the image in the center of the pupil.
d. Constriction of both pupils occurs in response to bright light. - ANSWER:d. Constriction of both pupils
occurs in response to bright light.
A mother asks when her newborn infants eyesight will be developed. The nurse should reply:
a. Vision is not totally developed until 2 years of age.
b. Infants develop the ability to focus on an object at approximately 8 months of age.
c. By approximately 3 months of age, infants develop more coordinated eye movements and can fixate
on an object.
d. Most infants have uncoordinated eye movements for the first year of life. - ANSWER:c. By
approximately 3 months of age, infants develop more coordinated eye movements and can fixate on an
object.
,10. The nurse is reviewing in age-related changes in the eye for a class. Which of these physiologic
changes is responsible for presbyopia?
a. Degeneration of the cornea
b. Loss of lens elasticity
c. Decreased adaptation to darkness
d. Decreased distance vision abilities - ANSWER:b. Loss of lens elasticity
11. Which of these assessment findings would the nurse expect to see when examining the eyes of a
black patient?
a. Increased night vision
b. Dark retinal background
c. Increased photosensitivity
d. Narrowed palpebral fissures - ANSWER:b. Dark retinal background
An ethnically based variability in the color of the iris and in retinal pigmentation exists, with darker irides
having darker retinas behind them.
12. A 52-year-old patient describes the presence of occasional floaters or spots moving in front of his
eyes. The nurse should:
a. Examine the retina to determine the number of floaters.
b. Presume the patient has glaucoma and refer him for further testing.
c. Consider these to be abnormal findings, and refer him to an ophthalmologist.
d. Know that floaters are usually insignificant and are caused by condensed vitreous fibers. - ANSWER:d.
Know that floaters are usually insignificant and are caused by condensed vitreous fibers.
The nurse is preparing to assess the visual acuity of a 16-year-old patient. How should the nurse
proceed?
a. Perform the confrontation test.
b. Ask the patient to read the print on a handheld Jaeger card.
c. Use the Snellen chart positioned 20 feet away from the patient.
d. Determine the patients ability to read newsprint at a distance of 12 to 14 inches. - ANSWER:c. Use the
Snellen chart positioned 20 feet away from the patient.
A patients vision is recorded as 20/30 when the Snellen eye chart is used. The nurse interprets these
results to indicate that:
a. At 30 feet the patient can read the entire chart.
,b. The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 30 feet.
c. The patient can read the chart from 20 feet in the left eye and 30 feet in the right eye.
d. The patient can read from 30 feet what a person with normal vision can read from 20 feet. -
ANSWER:b. The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 30 feet.
The top number indicates the distance the person is standing from the chart; the denominator gives the
distance at which a normal eye can see.
A patient is unable to read even the largest letters on the Snellen chart. The nurse should take which
action next?
a. Refer the patient to an ophthalmologist or optometrist for further evaluation.
b. Assess whether the patient can count the nurses fingers when they are placed in front of his or her
eyes.
c. Ask the patient to put on his or her reading glasses and attempt to read the Snellen chart again.
d. Shorten the distance between the patient and the chart until the letters are seen, and record that
distance. - ANSWER:d. Shorten the distance between the patient and the chart until the letters are seen,
and record that distance.
A patients vision is recorded as 20/80 in each eye. The nurse interprets this finding to mean that the
patient:
a. Has poor vision.
b. Has acute vision.
c. Has normal vision.
d. Is presbyopic. - ANSWER:a. Has poor vision.
The nurse is performing the diagnostic positions test. Normal findings would be which of these results?
a. Convergence of the eyes
b. Parallel movement of both eyes
c. Nystagmus in extreme superior gaze
d. Slight amount of lid lag when moving the eyes from a superior to an inferior position - ANSWER:b.
Parallel movement of both eyes
A 60-year-old man is at the clinic for an eye examination. The nurse suspects that he has ptosis of one
eye. How should the nurse check for this?
a. Perform the confrontation test.
b. Assess the individuals near vision.
, c. Observe the distance between the palpebral fissures.
d. Perform the corneal light test, and look for symmetry of the light reflex. - ANSWER:c. Observe the
distance between the palpebral fissures.
Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid that would be apparent by observing the distance between the
upper and lower eyelids. The confrontation test measures peripheral vision. Measuring near vision or the
corneal light test does not check for ptosis.
22. When assessing the pupillary light reflex, the nurse should use which technique?
a. Shine a penlight from directly in front of the patient, and inspect for pupillary constriction.
b. Ask the patient to follow the penlight in eight directions, and observe for bilateral pupil constriction.
c. Shine a light across the pupil from the side, and observe for direct and consensual pupillary
constriction.
d. Ask the patient to focus on a distant object. Then ask the patient to follow the penlight to
approximately 7 cm from the nose. - ANSWER:c. Shine a light across the pupil from the side, and observe
for direct and consensual pupillary constriction.
The nurse is assessing a patients eyes for the accommodation response and would expect to see which
normal finding?
a. Dilation of the pupils
b. Consensual light reflex
c. Conjugate movement of the eyes
d. Convergence of the axes of the eyes - ANSWER:d. Convergence of the axes of the eyes
A 2-week-old infant can fixate on an object but cannot follow a light or bright toy. The nurse would:
a. Consider this a normal finding.
b. Assess the pupillary light reflex for possible blindness.
c. Continue with the examination, and assess visual fields.
d. Expect that a 2-week-old infant should be able to fixate and follow an object. - ANSWER:a. Consider
this a normal finding
By 2 to 4 weeks an infant can fixate on an object. By the age of 1 month, the infant should fixate and
follow a bright light or toy.
The nurse is performing an eye-screening clinic at a daycare center. When examining a 2-year-old child,
the nurse suspects that the child has a lazy eye and should:
