Health Assessment

Name: Kristine Mae M. Merhan Score: ________ _

Course/section: BSN-1B Date: May 5, 2022

Assessment and Management of Patients with Eye and Vision Disorders:

Ellie Lee, a 74-year-old patient, is admitted to the hospital in the same day surgery unit for nasal
surgery. The patient is legally blind. The patient was diagnosed with a genetic disease, recessive retinitis
pigmentosa (RP), which results in degeneration of the photoreceptor cells. A patient with RP has progressive
loss of visual acuity, progressive night blindness, and progressive loss of peripheral vision. The patient’s best
corrected visual acuity is currently 20/200 with a visual field restriction of 12 degrees. The patient bumps into
objects in the room and gets disoriented as to the location of the bathroom or the door to the hallway.

a. What strategies should the nurse provide to help the client with low vision become oriented with the
hospital room environment and to maintain as much independence with mobility as possible?
 Walk the patient around the room, explaining where the bed, bathroom, and call light are located
by describing their locations. This will assist the patient in getting a better sense of how the room
is oriented
 Assist the patient in getting visual aids such as magnifiers and menus with larger print
 To avoid harm connected to visual impairments, implement safety precautions such as fall
prevention and making sure furniture and other items are off the floor or out of the way.
 Provide emotional support to the patient and assist them in developing coping mechanisms.
 Teach the patient to always wear appropriate eyeglasses. Dark glasses for UV light and
corrective lenses for indoor movement are alternatives.
 Instruct the patient that a diet rich in vitamin A and beta carotene is essential for maintaining
vision.
 Determine the patient's level of independence in performing activities of daily living.