MED-SURG | EENT
Module 0 – EENT Introduction
1.1 EENT Course Introduction
The EENT course provides an overview of some of the most common
EENT disorders that affect vision, hearing, and nasal function.
Remember these disorders will not only affect the eyes, ears, nose,
and throat, but also the patient’s sensory abilities.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to…
1. Understand common causes of vision changes, including
glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
2. Understand the different types of hearing loss and how they
are managed.
3. Understand Meniere’s Disease and its impact on the patient.
4. Understand various nasal disorders, their presentation, and
how to manage them.
Module 1 – EENT Disorders
1.1 Glaucoma
Overview
1. Vision loss occurring as a result of increased pressure inside
the eye
Nursing Points
,General
1. A&P
a. Sink Analogy
i. Ciliary bodies produce aqueous humor, similar to a
faucet
ii. Drainage angle (corner where the iris and the cornea
meet) is where the aqueous humor flows out, like a kitchen
sink drain
b. Decreased Outflow
i. Clogged or blocked drainage angle
ii. Causes increase in intraocular pressure (IOP)
2. Types
a. Open Angle
i. Drainage angle anatomically open, but clogged
b. Narrow Angle
i. Drainage angle anatomically closed/narrowed
c. Acute Angle Closure
i. Exacerbation
ii. The drainage angle becomes acutely narrowed or
blocked
d. Normal Tension (Low Pressure)
i. Similar optic nerve damage
ii. Normal IOP
Assessment
1. Subjective Data
a. Vision Loss/Vision changes
, i. “Halos” or other vision changes
b. Eye pain
c. Headache/Nausea
2. Objective Data
a. Corneal Changes
i. Hazy or cloudy
b. Scleral Changes
i. “Bloodshot eyes”
1. Not an isolated symptom
3. Diagnostics
a. Tonometry
i. Measures IOP
ii. Normal 10-21 mmHg
Therapeutic Management
1. Medical Management
a. Meds to increase outflow
i. Prostaglandin Analogues (Latanoprost, Bimatoprost –
medications ending in -oprost)
b. Meds to decrease aqueous humor production
i. Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors (i.e. acetazolamide,
methazolamide – ends in -amide)
c. Meds that do both
i. Alpha Agonists (brimonidine)
Nursing Concepts
1. Interventions that increase intracranial pressure also increase
pressure INSIDE the eye
Module 0 – EENT Introduction
1.1 EENT Course Introduction
The EENT course provides an overview of some of the most common
EENT disorders that affect vision, hearing, and nasal function.
Remember these disorders will not only affect the eyes, ears, nose,
and throat, but also the patient’s sensory abilities.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to…
1. Understand common causes of vision changes, including
glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
2. Understand the different types of hearing loss and how they
are managed.
3. Understand Meniere’s Disease and its impact on the patient.
4. Understand various nasal disorders, their presentation, and
how to manage them.
Module 1 – EENT Disorders
1.1 Glaucoma
Overview
1. Vision loss occurring as a result of increased pressure inside
the eye
Nursing Points
,General
1. A&P
a. Sink Analogy
i. Ciliary bodies produce aqueous humor, similar to a
faucet
ii. Drainage angle (corner where the iris and the cornea
meet) is where the aqueous humor flows out, like a kitchen
sink drain
b. Decreased Outflow
i. Clogged or blocked drainage angle
ii. Causes increase in intraocular pressure (IOP)
2. Types
a. Open Angle
i. Drainage angle anatomically open, but clogged
b. Narrow Angle
i. Drainage angle anatomically closed/narrowed
c. Acute Angle Closure
i. Exacerbation
ii. The drainage angle becomes acutely narrowed or
blocked
d. Normal Tension (Low Pressure)
i. Similar optic nerve damage
ii. Normal IOP
Assessment
1. Subjective Data
a. Vision Loss/Vision changes
, i. “Halos” or other vision changes
b. Eye pain
c. Headache/Nausea
2. Objective Data
a. Corneal Changes
i. Hazy or cloudy
b. Scleral Changes
i. “Bloodshot eyes”
1. Not an isolated symptom
3. Diagnostics
a. Tonometry
i. Measures IOP
ii. Normal 10-21 mmHg
Therapeutic Management
1. Medical Management
a. Meds to increase outflow
i. Prostaglandin Analogues (Latanoprost, Bimatoprost –
medications ending in -oprost)
b. Meds to decrease aqueous humor production
i. Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors (i.e. acetazolamide,
methazolamide – ends in -amide)
c. Meds that do both
i. Alpha Agonists (brimonidine)
Nursing Concepts
1. Interventions that increase intracranial pressure also increase
pressure INSIDE the eye
