intraocular pressure such as emotional upsets, exertion, coughing, wearing constrictive clothing,

straining at stool and constipation

Eye drops - Used for cause pupil constriction because movement of the muscles to constrict the pupil
also allows aqueous humor to flow out, thereby decreasing the pressure in the eye

Pilocarpine - Commonly used eye drop for glaucoma; vision may be blurred for 1-2 hours after
administration and adaptation to dark environments is difficult because of the papillary constriction it
causes

Elderly patients with glaucoma - Prone to glaucoma and constipation - nurse should continually assess
for constipation and should implement a plan of care directed at prevention of and treatment of
constipation

Cataract - Condition characterized by opacity of the lens; aging accounts for 95%; other 5% is from
trauma, toxic stundtances, systemic disease or are congenital; surgical removal is done under local
anesthesia

Eye physiology - The lens of the eye is responsible for projecting light onto the retina so that images can
be discerned; without the lens, which becomes opaque with cataracts, light cannot be filtered and vision
is blurred

Nursing assessment for cataract - Early signs: blurred vision, decreased in color perception; late signs:
diplopia, reduced visual acuity, progressing to blindness; coulded pupil, progressing to a milky-white
appearance

Diagnosis for cataract - Ophthalmoscope, slit lamp biomicroscope

Post operative care for cataract - Warn not to rub or put pressure on the eye, glasses or shaded lens
should be worn during waking hours; avoid lifting objects over 15 pounds, bending, straining, coughing
or any other activity that can cause an increase in intraocular pressure; avoid lying on operative side;