NCLEX CATARACT & GLAUCOMA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The client who had cataract surgery with a lens implant 1 week ago remarks to the home care nurse that after his daughter left to go to her home in another state yesterday, he combined all of his prescribed eyedrops together in one container so he had fewer drops to administer. What is the nurse's best response? A. "This is not a good idea because not all of the drugs are on the same schedule." B. "That is a good idea; just remember to not touch the dropper to your eye when giving yourself the drops." C. "Call your surgeon immediately and get new prescriptions because together these drugs can lower your blood pressure." D. "Call your surgeon immediately and get new prescriptions to use one at a time because these drugs cannot be mixed together." - Answer-Answer: D Rationale: These drugs are not to be mixed together. Not only is the chance for contamination high, but the drug concentrations and effectiveness are also reduced when mixed together. Even when the drugs are administered separately, they should be given 5 to 10 minutes apart. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform before instilling travoprost (Travatan) into the client's eye? A. Measuring the client's blood pressure B. Measuring the client's intraocular pressure C. Checking the cornea for abrasions or open areas D. Assessing heart rate and rhythm for 1 full minute - Answer-Answer: C Rationale: Travoprost is a prostaglandins agonist. Drugs from this class should not be applied unless the cornea is completely intact. Measuring intraocular pressure is not necessary when a diagnosis of glaucoma has been established. Prostaglandins agonists, even if systemically absorbed, do not affect body blood pressure or heart rate and rhythm. Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach a 62-year-old client newly diagnosed with early-stage dry age-related macular degeneration? A. Quit smoking B. Quit drinking alcoholic beverages C. Eat more dark green, red, and yellow vegetables D. Wear dark glasses whenever he or she is outside or in bright interior lighting environments - Answer-Answer: A Rationale: Dry AMD is more common and progresses at a faster rate among smokers than among nonsmokers. Thus, quitting smoking can slow the rate of AMD progression. Avoiding alcohol and bright light (even ultraviolet light) is not related to AMD development or progression. Although increasing long-term dietary intake of antioxidants, vitamin B12, and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that are found in green, red, and yellow vegetables is thought to help slow the progression of AMD, the effects