CEN OCULAR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025-2026
WHY should the nurse triage as most emergent A pt with Central retinal artery occlusion? -
Answers Central retinal artery occlusion produces the sudden onset of unilateral, painless vision
loss and is a true ocular emergency.
Retinal circulation must be restored within 60 to 120 minutes (or less) to prevent permanent
vision loss.
To assess the external eye, the nurse should perform which activity?
A. Have the patient identify letters or objects on a chart or card.
B. Inspect and gently palpate the eyelids, lashes, and surrounding bony structures.
C. Have the patient follow the nurse's fingers with his or her eyes.
D. Visualize the external structures with a slit lamp. - Answers An external eye assessment
consists of the inspection and gentle palpation of the eyelids, lashes, and surrounding bony
structures.
Visual acuity is assessed by having the patient identify letters or objects on a chart or card.
Cardinal fields of gaze are assessed by having a patient follow the nurse's fingers with his or her
eyes.
A slit-lamp microscope is used to help visualize the superficial structures and the anterior
chamber.
Retinal detachment requires consultation with an - Answers Retinal detachment requires
consultation with an ophthalmologist to determine a definitive treatment, such as laser repair or
scleral buckling.
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus requires - Answers Herpes zoster ophthalmicus requires local
wound care, administration of analgesics and antivirals, and possibly topical steroids and
antibiotics.
Hyphema requires consultation with an - Answers Hyphema requires consultation with an
ophthalmologist.
,In a patient with a globe rupture, which sign or symptom is expected?
A. Altered depth of the posterior chamber
B. Dilated pupil
C. Teardrop-shaped pupil
D. Decreased pain sensation - Answers Signs and symptoms of a globe rupture include
hyphema, a teardrop-shaped pupil, altered depth of the anterior chamber, altered light
perception, vitreous hemorrhage (occasionally), and minimal to severe pain.
WHAT disorder results in abnormal extraocular movements? - Answers Orbital cellulitis
The nurse evaluates extraocular movements by testing the six cardinal fields of gaze. This
assesses cranial nerves III, IV, and VI (the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves).
A PT WITH Orbital cellulitis WHEREIN A NURSE NEEDS TO EVALUATE THEIR EXTRAOCULAR
MOVEMENTS IS TEST HOW? - Answers in Orbital cellulitis, the nurse evaluates extraocular
movements by testing the six cardinal fields of gaze.
six cardinal fields of gaze assesses which cranial nerves: - Answers this assesses cranial
nerves
III, IV, and VI (the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves).
Impaired extraocular movement may result from - Answers an entrapped muscle caused by
orbital cellulitis, an orbital blowout fracture, muscular injury, or an underlying central nervous
system problem.
the three ocular dx do not affect extraocular movement. - Answers Corneal ulcer
retinal detachment, and glaucoma do not affect extraocular movement.
For a patient with an alkali burn of the eye, what is the pH that indicates the endpoint for
continuous irrigation?
B - Answers Ocular pH of 7.4
For a patient with an alkali burn, continue irrigation until the ocular pH reaches about 7.3 or 7.4.
Normal conjunctival pH is? - Answers Normal conjunctival pH is 7.0 to 7.3.
, If litmus paper is not available for pH measurement of the conjunctiva then to mark the end
point of irrigation of eye is - Answers irrigate for at least 60 minutes with 2 L of fluid.
A severe chemical burn may require 2 to 4 hours of irrigation. Measure the pH periodically
during and after the initial irrigation.
A patient with a corneal infection may develop a - Answers hypopyon (collection of pus due to
white blood cells in the anterior chamber of the eye).
Which intervention is appropriate for a hypopyon?
A. Apply an eye patch for comfort.
B. Apply cool compresses.
C. Obtain a specimen for culture and sensitivity testing.
D. Irrigate the eye with copious fluids. - Answers Obtain a specimen of the hypopyon for culture
and sensitivity testing to determine the specific cause of the infection. Other interventions
include applying warm compresses and administering broad-spectrum antibiotics and possibly
antifungal eye drops.
because of the risk of Pseudomonas infection, DO NOT APPLY ? TO A PATIENT WITH
HYPOPYN - Answers Do not patch the eye because of the risk of Pseudomonas infection, which
is a particular concern with contact lens wearers. Irrigation with copious fluids is an intervention
for a chemical burn, not a hypopyon.
When caring for a multisystem trauma patient, what should you expect to assess after airway,
breathing, circulation and disability: - Answers Ocular injuries commonly occur with head and
facial injuries, so carefully evaluate patients with these injuries for coexisting ocular injuries
after evaluating and stabilizing airway, breathing, circulation, and disability.
When caring for a multisystem trauma patient with a suspected ocular injury, what step should
you take after the primary survey?
A. Instill saline eye drops.
B. Forcibly open the eyelids, if needed, to assess ocular structures.
C. Remove the patient's contact lenses.
D. Apply a topical anesthetic. - Answers if unconscious or impaired patient, look for and remove
contact lenses as soon as possible.
in a multisystem trauma patient what do you NOT want to do when it comes to assessing the
WHY should the nurse triage as most emergent A pt with Central retinal artery occlusion? -
Answers Central retinal artery occlusion produces the sudden onset of unilateral, painless vision
loss and is a true ocular emergency.
Retinal circulation must be restored within 60 to 120 minutes (or less) to prevent permanent
vision loss.
To assess the external eye, the nurse should perform which activity?
A. Have the patient identify letters or objects on a chart or card.
B. Inspect and gently palpate the eyelids, lashes, and surrounding bony structures.
C. Have the patient follow the nurse's fingers with his or her eyes.
D. Visualize the external structures with a slit lamp. - Answers An external eye assessment
consists of the inspection and gentle palpation of the eyelids, lashes, and surrounding bony
structures.
Visual acuity is assessed by having the patient identify letters or objects on a chart or card.
Cardinal fields of gaze are assessed by having a patient follow the nurse's fingers with his or her
eyes.
A slit-lamp microscope is used to help visualize the superficial structures and the anterior
chamber.
Retinal detachment requires consultation with an - Answers Retinal detachment requires
consultation with an ophthalmologist to determine a definitive treatment, such as laser repair or
scleral buckling.
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus requires - Answers Herpes zoster ophthalmicus requires local
wound care, administration of analgesics and antivirals, and possibly topical steroids and
antibiotics.
Hyphema requires consultation with an - Answers Hyphema requires consultation with an
ophthalmologist.
,In a patient with a globe rupture, which sign or symptom is expected?
A. Altered depth of the posterior chamber
B. Dilated pupil
C. Teardrop-shaped pupil
D. Decreased pain sensation - Answers Signs and symptoms of a globe rupture include
hyphema, a teardrop-shaped pupil, altered depth of the anterior chamber, altered light
perception, vitreous hemorrhage (occasionally), and minimal to severe pain.
WHAT disorder results in abnormal extraocular movements? - Answers Orbital cellulitis
The nurse evaluates extraocular movements by testing the six cardinal fields of gaze. This
assesses cranial nerves III, IV, and VI (the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves).
A PT WITH Orbital cellulitis WHEREIN A NURSE NEEDS TO EVALUATE THEIR EXTRAOCULAR
MOVEMENTS IS TEST HOW? - Answers in Orbital cellulitis, the nurse evaluates extraocular
movements by testing the six cardinal fields of gaze.
six cardinal fields of gaze assesses which cranial nerves: - Answers this assesses cranial
nerves
III, IV, and VI (the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves).
Impaired extraocular movement may result from - Answers an entrapped muscle caused by
orbital cellulitis, an orbital blowout fracture, muscular injury, or an underlying central nervous
system problem.
the three ocular dx do not affect extraocular movement. - Answers Corneal ulcer
retinal detachment, and glaucoma do not affect extraocular movement.
For a patient with an alkali burn of the eye, what is the pH that indicates the endpoint for
continuous irrigation?
B - Answers Ocular pH of 7.4
For a patient with an alkali burn, continue irrigation until the ocular pH reaches about 7.3 or 7.4.
Normal conjunctival pH is? - Answers Normal conjunctival pH is 7.0 to 7.3.
, If litmus paper is not available for pH measurement of the conjunctiva then to mark the end
point of irrigation of eye is - Answers irrigate for at least 60 minutes with 2 L of fluid.
A severe chemical burn may require 2 to 4 hours of irrigation. Measure the pH periodically
during and after the initial irrigation.
A patient with a corneal infection may develop a - Answers hypopyon (collection of pus due to
white blood cells in the anterior chamber of the eye).
Which intervention is appropriate for a hypopyon?
A. Apply an eye patch for comfort.
B. Apply cool compresses.
C. Obtain a specimen for culture and sensitivity testing.
D. Irrigate the eye with copious fluids. - Answers Obtain a specimen of the hypopyon for culture
and sensitivity testing to determine the specific cause of the infection. Other interventions
include applying warm compresses and administering broad-spectrum antibiotics and possibly
antifungal eye drops.
because of the risk of Pseudomonas infection, DO NOT APPLY ? TO A PATIENT WITH
HYPOPYN - Answers Do not patch the eye because of the risk of Pseudomonas infection, which
is a particular concern with contact lens wearers. Irrigation with copious fluids is an intervention
for a chemical burn, not a hypopyon.
When caring for a multisystem trauma patient, what should you expect to assess after airway,
breathing, circulation and disability: - Answers Ocular injuries commonly occur with head and
facial injuries, so carefully evaluate patients with these injuries for coexisting ocular injuries
after evaluating and stabilizing airway, breathing, circulation, and disability.
When caring for a multisystem trauma patient with a suspected ocular injury, what step should
you take after the primary survey?
A. Instill saline eye drops.
B. Forcibly open the eyelids, if needed, to assess ocular structures.
C. Remove the patient's contact lenses.
D. Apply a topical anesthetic. - Answers if unconscious or impaired patient, look for and remove
contact lenses as soon as possible.
in a multisystem trauma patient what do you NOT want to do when it comes to assessing the
