Adult Health
Sample Question

Cataracts involve clouding (ie, opacification) of the lens in the eye, which impairs visual acuity and often progresses to blindness. Severe cataracts typically require surgical intervention to remove the clouded lens and to restore visual acuity with artificial lens implantation (eg, intraocular lens).

Following cataract surgery, the client should avoid activities that increase intraocular pressure (IOP) (eg, straining to have a bowel movement , sexual intercourse, heavy lifting) because increased IOP worsens surgical site edema, impairs healing, and may cause hemorrhage (Option 2). The nurse should encourage clients to increase fluid and fiber intake and consider taking a stool softener to prevent straining when having a bowel movement.

(Option 1) It is common for clients to experience a small amount of eye drainage on awakening in the morning for several days following surgery. Clients may use a clean, damp washcloth to gently wipe away eye drainage.

(Option 3) Clients typically have minimal pain after cataract surgery and may experience mild itchiness in the affected eye.

(Option 4) Vision typically remains blurry for several hours after lens implantation and improves over several days. Clients should notify the surgeon if visual acuity does not improve or worsens, which may indicate retinal detachment, a medical emergency that can result in permanent vision loss.

Educational objective:
Following cataract surgery, the client should be instructed to avoid activities that increase intraocular pressure (IOP) (eg, straining to have a bowel movement, sexual intercourse, heavy lifting) because increased IOP worsens surgical site edema, impairs healing, and may cause hemorrhage.