Cataracts (Exam 2) Flashcards
What is the most common surgical procedure for any american greater than 65 yrs old?
Cataract surgery
Cataract, what is it like?
Everything looks constantly fuzzy
Vaseline on the eyeball
What is the lens
Sits behind the pupil
Changes shape as needed to help focus and accommodate
With cataracts lens becomes what which leads to what?
-Cloudy and stiff (aging)
LEADS TO
-Decreased visual acuity
-Decreased accommodation
Flood glare
With cataract due to light scatter caused by the opacities
Cataract Non Surgical Collaborative Care
Adjust glasses prescription
Increase light for reading and close up work
Day driving only
When does surgery become an option for cataracts?
When all non surgical measures do not work
and / or
Lens is causing increase in IOP
and /or
If lens opacity prevents monitory of retina in high risk people
Increase in IOP leads to
Glaucoma and eventually blindness
Why might someone with diabetes and cataracts might have cataract surgery?
To prevent the lens from disrupting view of the retina
(diabetic retinopathy)
Pre-op: Cataract Surgical Therapy (mydriatic drops)
-Dilates pupil
Mydriatic Drops
Dilate pupils
Miotic Drops
Constrict pupils
To avoid systemic effects of eye drops we might preform
Punctal occlusion
What is common with mydriatic drops and what can we do about it?
Photophobia is common so we should decrease room lights
Cycloplegic drops
paralysis of accommodation
NSAID drops
Pain
What also may be given for cataract procedure
Anti Anxiety medication
Patient is not put to sleep
Why is medical History important before cataract surgery?
Does patient have closed angle glaucoma?
We do NOT want to give dilating eye drop to closed angle glaucoma because it will further increase IOP
T/F: Patient should be NPO pre-cataract procedure?
Yes NPO 6-8 hours before
Cataract Surgery Post-Op phase
Topical Antibiotics and Steroids
Eye covered with patch and shield (removed at initial post-op visit)
Eye drops at home
May or may not have activity restriction or nighttime eye patch
Post op cataract surgery it is important to avoid anything that increase IOP, what does this include?
No:
Bending
Stooping
Lifting
Coughing
Patient education following cataract surgery
May experience improved or decrease visual acuity (both are normal)
Eye drops will be slowly decrease and or stopped as eye heals
S/S infection
Proper hygiene
Patient will return for check ups often and we will monitor
IOP
Visual Acuity
Anterior chamber depth
Corneal clarity
