Eye and Ear Disorder fully solved
1. In the aftermath of a demanding day, Nurse Jacob finds himself attending to an elderly
patient, Mrs. Martinez, who has recently undergone cataract extraction. Among the medical
discussions, an iridectomy, a procedure that involves removing a part of the iris, is brought up.
Nurse Jacob is aware of the primary purpose of performing an iridectomy post-cataract
extraction.
What, according to Nurse Jacob's understanding, is the primary reason for performing an
iridectomy after Mrs. Martinez's cataract extraction?
A. To enhance Mrs. Martinez's visual acuity.
B. To avoid the potential occurrence of secondary glaucoma.
C. To lessen the discomfort in Mrs. Martinez's eye.
D. To prevent hemorrhage in the postoperative phase. - correct answer ✔✔ B. To avoid the
potential occurrence of secondary glaucoma.
An iridectomy is a procedure that involves removing a portion of the iris. The main reason to
perform an iridectomy, particularly in the context of cataract extraction, is to prevent the
occurrence of secondary glaucoma. Glaucoma is a condition characterized by increased
pressure within the eye, which can lead to vision loss if not managed effectively.
After a cataract extraction, there's a risk that the lens (or its replacement) might press against
the iris, blocking the trabecular meshwork, which is responsible for draining the aqueous humor
from the eye. This blockage can cause intraocular pressure to rise, leading to secondary
glaucoma. By removing part of the iris, an iridectomy creates an alternate pathway for fluid
drainage, hence reducing the risk of glaucoma.
,Imagine if a small city had only one major road out of town. If a large obstruction blocked that
road, it would cause a significant traffic jam. An iridectomy is akin to creating an additional road
that allows traffic (aqueous humor) to flow freely, reducing the chance of a traffic jam
(increased intraocular pressure) and potential subsequent damage (secondary glaucoma).
2. On a sunny day, Nurse Mariah is providing community health education at a local outdoor
event. She encounters a group of individuals interested in learning more about eye health. One
topic that emerges is pterygium - a growth on the cornea that can affect vision. Mariah explains
the primary cause of this condition.
According to Nurse Mariah, what is the primary environmental exposure that leads to the
development of pterygium?
A) The frequent exposure to gusty winds.
B) The frequent exposure to airborne dust particles.
C) The frequent exposure to certain harsh chemicals.
D) The frequent exposure to intense sunlight. - correct answer ✔✔ D. The frequent exposure to
intense sunlight.
Pterygium, a benign growth of the conjunctiva that extends over the cornea, is often attributed
to frequent and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This UV radiation
can lead to damage and inflammation in the exposed tissues of the eye, stimulating the growth
of these lesions.
Just as prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can cause your skin to become red and inflamed,
leading eventually to a sunburn, the same can occur with the conjunctiva of the eye. The
damage and inflammation from the sun exposure can stimulate the growth that characterizes
pterygium.
, 3. Nurse Jackson is sitting down with a patient, Mr. Lee, discussing his recent diagnosis of
cataracts. It's an anxious time for Mr. Lee, who has many questions. Nurse Jackson, with his
calming demeanor, explains the primary issue that cataracts create.
According to Nurse Jackson, what is the primary difficulty experienced by those diagnosed with
cataracts?
A) The appearance of spots or "floaters" in their vision.
B) The loss of their peripheral vision.
C) The blurring of their vision.
D) Seeing halos around light sources. - correct answer ✔✔ C. The blurring of their vision.
Cataracts primarily cause a blurring of vision. A cataract is a condition in which the lens of the
eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision. This happens because the lens,
which is normally clear, clouds up, and this prevents light from passing through and focusing on
the retina properly.
Think of it like looking through a foggy window or wearing glasses with a heavy smear on them.
No matter how hard you squint or move your head, the view remains unclear. This is how it
feels for a person with cataracts experiencing blurred vision.
Cataracts primarily stem from aging and the wear and tear on the eye. They develop when
proteins in the lens form abnormal clumps, which start to cloud a small area of the lens. As the
cataract enlarges, it further clouds the lens, leading to blurred vision. This process is often linked
to oxidative stress, where the balance between the production of damaging free radicals and
the eye's natural antioxidant defenses is disrupted, causing changes to lens proteins and the
death of lens cells. Think of it like looking through a frosted or foggy window; as the frost or fog
(cataract) grows, the view through the window becomes increasingly blurry.
4. Nurse Lillian finds herself in a deep conversation with a patient's family who are coming to
terms with the fact that their loved one requires a major eye surgery due to a malignant tumor.