PHARMACOLOGY: CHAPTER 57 OPTHALMIC
DRUGS VERIFIED SOLUTION
The nurse will be giving ophthalmic drugs to a patient with glaucoma. Which drug is given
intravenously to reduce intraocular pressure when other medications are not successful?
a. Tobramycin (Tobrex)
b. Bacitracin (AK-Tracin)
c. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
d. Ketorolac (Acular) Answers:
ANS: C
Drugs used to reduce intraocular pressure include osmotic diuretics such as mannitol, which is given
intravenously. Tobramycin and bacitracin are antibiotics; ketorolac has anti-inflammatory actions.
The nurse is reviewing the use of ophthalmic preparations. Indications for the direct- and indirect-
acting miotics include which condition?
a. Cataracts
b. Removal of foreign bodies
c. Open-angle glaucoma
d. Ocular infections Answers:
ANS: C
Indications for the direct- and indirect-acting miotics include open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure
glaucoma, ocular surgery, and convergent strabismus.
A patient has a new prescription for an antiglaucoma eyedrop. The next day, she calls the clinic and
states, "The package insert says this medication might make my blue eyes turn brown! Is this true?"
The nurse realizes that the patient has a prescription for which eye medication?
a. Latanoprost (Xalatan), a prostaglandin agonist
b. Dorzolamide (Trusopt), an ocular carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
c. Betaxolol (Betoptic), a direct-acting beta blocker
d. Pilocarpine (Pilocar), a direct-acting cholinergic Answers:
ANS: A
There is one unique adverse effect associated with all prostaglandin agonists—in some people with
hazel, green, or bluish-brown eye color, eye color will turn permanently brown, even if the medication
is discontinued. This adverse effect appears to be cosmetic only, with no known ill effects on the eye.
The other medications do not have this effect.
A patient has been taking the corticosteroid dexamethasone (Decadron) but has developed bacterial
conjunctivitis and has a prescription for gentamicin (Garamycin) ointment. The nurse notes that which
interaction is possible if the two drugs are used together?
a. The infection may become systemic.
b. The gentamicin effects may become more potent.
c. The corticosteroid may cause overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms.
d. Immunosuppression may make it more difficult to eliminate the eye infection.
DRUGS VERIFIED SOLUTION
The nurse will be giving ophthalmic drugs to a patient with glaucoma. Which drug is given
intravenously to reduce intraocular pressure when other medications are not successful?
a. Tobramycin (Tobrex)
b. Bacitracin (AK-Tracin)
c. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
d. Ketorolac (Acular) Answers:
ANS: C
Drugs used to reduce intraocular pressure include osmotic diuretics such as mannitol, which is given
intravenously. Tobramycin and bacitracin are antibiotics; ketorolac has anti-inflammatory actions.
The nurse is reviewing the use of ophthalmic preparations. Indications for the direct- and indirect-
acting miotics include which condition?
a. Cataracts
b. Removal of foreign bodies
c. Open-angle glaucoma
d. Ocular infections Answers:
ANS: C
Indications for the direct- and indirect-acting miotics include open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure
glaucoma, ocular surgery, and convergent strabismus.
A patient has a new prescription for an antiglaucoma eyedrop. The next day, she calls the clinic and
states, "The package insert says this medication might make my blue eyes turn brown! Is this true?"
The nurse realizes that the patient has a prescription for which eye medication?
a. Latanoprost (Xalatan), a prostaglandin agonist
b. Dorzolamide (Trusopt), an ocular carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
c. Betaxolol (Betoptic), a direct-acting beta blocker
d. Pilocarpine (Pilocar), a direct-acting cholinergic Answers:
ANS: A
There is one unique adverse effect associated with all prostaglandin agonists—in some people with
hazel, green, or bluish-brown eye color, eye color will turn permanently brown, even if the medication
is discontinued. This adverse effect appears to be cosmetic only, with no known ill effects on the eye.
The other medications do not have this effect.
A patient has been taking the corticosteroid dexamethasone (Decadron) but has developed bacterial
conjunctivitis and has a prescription for gentamicin (Garamycin) ointment. The nurse notes that which
interaction is possible if the two drugs are used together?
a. The infection may become systemic.
b. The gentamicin effects may become more potent.
c. The corticosteroid may cause overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms.
d. Immunosuppression may make it more difficult to eliminate the eye infection.
