Eyes

• narrow - angle glaucoma - seeing halos around lights
• night-blindness is associated with optic atrophy, glaucoma, vitamin A deficiency
• Double vision (diplopia) in one eye - often due to dry eyes
• Diplopia in both eyes is seen with misalignment
• Persistent diplopia that recurs may be due to stroke, head injury, brain tumor, brain swelling and brain aneurysm
• A blind spot (scotoma) is surrounded by either normal or slightly diminished peripheral vision
• Intermittent blind spots may be associated with vascular spasms (ophthalmic migraines), pressure on the optic nerve by a tumor, or increased intracranial pressure
• burning or itching pain is usually associated with allergies or superficial irritation
• throbbing, stabbing or deep aching pain - suggests a foreign body in the eyes or changes within the eye
• Redness or swelling of the eyes is usually related to an inflammatory response caused by allergy, foreign body, or bacterial or viral infection
• Unilateral epiphora is often associated with foreign body or obstruction.
• Bilateral epiphora is often associated with exposure to irritants, such as makeup or facial cleansers, or it may be a systemic response.
• Discharge other than tears from one or both eyes suggests a bacterial or viral infection.
• Clients who do not wear the prescribed corrective lenses are susceptible to eye strain.
• Improper cleaning or prolonged wearing of contact lenses can lead to infection and corneal damage.
• Tonometry is used to measure pressure within the eye
• Normal eye pressures range from 10 to 21 mmHg.
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation puts the client at risk for the development of cataracts
• Lutein and zeaxanthin (in foods or by supplements) found in green leafy vegetables, eggs, and other foods reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including AMD and cataracts
• Vitamin E in its most biologically active form is a powerful antioxidant that, when taken with antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, and zinc, has been found to slow progression of AMD by 25% in high-risk individuals.
• Zinc is an essential trace mineral or “helper molecule.” It plays a vital role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes.
• Two omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for proper visual development and retinal function
• Dietary deprivation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and especially of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is related to visual impairment, retinal degradation, and even dry eye syndrome, and to the progression of advanced age–related AMD
• Beta-carotene supplements decrease one’s risk of developing cataracts and AMD
• Glaucoma - is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often caused by abnormally high pressure (IOP) within the eye
• Open-Angle Glaucoma - Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) or central vision, frequently in both eyes
• Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma - Severe headache, Eye pain, Nausea and vomiting. Blurred vision, Halos around lights, and Eye redness
• AMD is a major cause of visual impairment that affects the macula portion of the retina
• retina - is a paper-thin tissue at the back of the eye where light-sensitive cells send visual signals to the brain.
• macula - processes sharp, clear, straight-ahead vision.
• Damage to the macula results in blind spots and blurred or distorted vision
• Cataracts, which are often preventable, are the leading cause of blindness in the world today.
• Cataracts are a clouding of the usually clear lens of the eye, causing a person to see as though looking through a frosty or foggy window, with vision even more affected at night
• Snellen chart - Used to test distant visual acuity, which consists of lines of different letters stacked one above the other. The letters are large at the top and decrease in size from top to bottom.
• Jaeger Test - Near vision is assessed in clients over 40 years of age by holding the pocket screener or newspaper print 14 in. from the eye
• ophthalmoscope - is a hand-held instrument that allows the examiner to view the fundus of the eye by the projection of light through a prism that bends the light 90 degrees.
• Myopia (impaired far vision) - is present when the second number in the test result is larger than the first (20/40).
• Presbyopia (impaired near vision) is indicated when the client moves the chart away from the eyes to focus on the print. Has decreased accommodation.
• A delayed or absent perception of the examiner’s finger indicates reduced peripheral vision
• Asymmetric position of the light reflex - indicates deviated alignment of the eyes. This may be due to muscle weakness or paralysis