Rasmussen College, Mankato PN 2PN2-Exam-3-Study-Guide-2

ARTICLE: Seizure (new and improved in the last two years) Cataracts: what are you going to do, what are you going to see, what is the treatment Cataracts occur as the opacity of the lens becomes cloudy or turns a yellowish brown color, distorting the light passing through to the retina  The lens is made of water and protein; when the protein clumps together this produces the cloudiness  When the lens develops the yellowish brown color it often results in color distortion  Symptoms include cloudiness or blurriness, reduced night vision, and color distortion or faded colors Management for patients with cataracts starts with adjusting the corrective lens as frequently as necessary to ensure optimal vision  Surgical treatment for cataracts begins when vision is sufficiently impaired to interfere with ADLs o There are two types of surgery: phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery o Cataract surgery is done almost exclusively as an outpatient procedure o Preoperative nursing care includes preop history and physical, including medication usage, administration of eye drops to dilate the pupil and cause vasoconstriction, and patient education o Oral medications may be given in the preop phase to reduce intraocular pressure, such as acteazol amide (Diamox, Acetazolam) o During the intraop procedure, the cataract is removed, and an IOL is placed in most patients o Postop care usually includes use of eye drops, including a steroid and antibiotic placed subconjunctivally o The eye is usually left unpatched, and the patient discharged home o Emphasize the postop care of eye drop instillation o The postop period should be relatively free of complication, and pain or swelling are generally not expected. If pain with nausea and vomiting should occur, notify the ophthalmologist