Ch. 58 Assessment and Management of Patients with Eye and Vision Disorders

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key anatomical terms, disorders, diagnostics, treatments, and nursing considerations related to eye and vision care.

Emmetropia

Normal refractive condition of the eye in which light focuses precisely on the retina without corrective lenses.

Myopia

Nearsightedness; refractive power is too strong, causing images to focus in front of the retina.

Hyperopia

Farsightedness; refractive power is too weak, causing images to focus behind the retina.

Astigmatism

Uneven curvature of corneal or lens surfaces producing distorted, multiple focal points on the retina.

Presbyopia

Age-related loss of lens elasticity leading to difficulty focusing on close objects.

Accommodation

Automatic adjustment of the lens curvature to focus on near or distant objects.

Miosis

Pupillary constriction to a small diameter.

Mydriasis

Pupillary dilation to a large diameter.

Arcus Senilis

Gray-white ring at the corneal periphery caused by lipid deposits in older adults.

Ectropion

Outward turning of the lower eyelid, often causing excessive tearing.

Snellen Chart

Standard wall chart used to measure distance visual acuity.

Rosenbaum Pocket Screener

Handheld card for assessing near visual acuity.

Ptosis

Drooping of the upper eyelid.

Nystagmus

Involuntary rhythmic oscillation of the eyeballs.

Slit-Lamp Examination

Microscopic inspection of anterior eye structures using a high-intensity light beam.

Tonometry

Measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Ophthalmoscopy

Direct or indirect visualization of the retina and optic nerve with a scope.

Perimetry Testing

Assessment of visual field deficits.

Aqueous Humor

Clear fluid filling the anterior and posterior chambers of the anterior eye segment.

Canal of Schlemm

Circular drainage channel for aqueous humor at the iridocorneal angle.

Intraocular Pressure (IOP)

Fluid pressure within the eye; normally 10–21 mm Hg.

Glaucoma

Group of eye disorders marked by optic nerve damage from elevated or intolerable IOP.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

Common chronic glaucoma caused by trabecular meshwork obstruction of aqueous outflow.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Rapid IOP rise due to sudden blockage of the iridocorneal angle; ocular emergency.

Laser Trabeculoplasty

Outpatient laser procedure that widens trabecular spaces to improve aqueous drainage.

Trabeculectomy

Filtering surgery creating a fistula to drain aqueous humor and lower IOP.

Mydriatics

Topical agents that dilate the pupil (e.g., phenylephrine).

Cycloplegics

Drugs that paralyze the ciliary muscle, preventing accommodation (e.g., atropine).

Beta-Blocker Eye Drops

Medications (e.g., timolol) that decrease aqueous production to lower IOP.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

Agents (e.g., dorzolamide) that reduce aqueous humor formation to treat glaucoma.

Prostaglandin Analogs

Glaucoma drops (e.g., latanoprost) that increase uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor.

Cataract

Lens opacity causing progressive, painless visual blurring and glare sensitivity.

Phacoemulsification

Ultrasonic cataract extraction method using a small corneal incision.

Intraocular Lens (IOL)

Permanent artificial lens implanted after cataract removal.

Low Vision

Visual impairment requiring adaptive devices but not complete blindness.

Legal Blindness

Best-corrected visual acuity ≤ 20/200 or visual field ≤ 20° in the better eye.

White Cane with Red Tip

Mobility aid indicating the user is totally or legally blind.

Radial Keratotomy

Peripheral corneal incisions to flatten cornea and correct myopia.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Excimer laser reshapes corneal surface to correct refractive errors.

LASIK

Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis; reshapes mid-corneal stroma beneath a flap.

Corneal Ring

Plastic ring inserted in corneal periphery to alter shape and treat mild myopia.

Keratoconus

Progressive thinning and cone-shaped protrusion of the cornea.

Keratoplasty

Surgical transplantation of donor corneal tissue (corneal graft).

Scleral Buckle

Silicone band sutured around globe to indent sclera and repair retinal detachment.

Vitrectomy

Removal of vitreous humor, often with gas or oil insertion, to treat posterior eye disease.

Retinal Detachment

Separation of sensory retina from pigment epithelium causing flashes, floaters, curtain-like vision loss.

Drusen

Yellowish retinal deposits associated with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Degenerative macular disease leading to central vision loss; dry and wet forms.

Photodynamic Therapy (Verteporfin)

Light-activated drug treatment that seals abnormal subretinal vessels in wet AMD.

Amsler Grid

Square grid used at home to detect macular degeneration distortions.

Sympathetic Ophthalmia

Autoimmune inflammation of the uninjured eye after severe ocular trauma to the other eye.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva; may be bacterial, viral, allergic, or toxic.

Uveitis

Inflammation of the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, choroid).

Diabetic Retinopathy

Progressive retinal microvascular damage from chronic hyperglycemia causing vision loss.

Sclera

Opaque, fibrous outer layer of the eyeball; the “white” of the eye.

Conjunctiva

Transparent mucous membrane covering sclera and inner eyelids.

Iris

Colored diaphragm controlling pupil size.

Lens

Biconvex transparent structure that fine-tunes refraction for focusing.

Vitreous Humor

Gel filling the posterior segment, maintaining ocular shape and retinal attachment.

Vitreous Humor

Vitreous Humor