MENNONITE COLLEGE OF NURSING

AT

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY

 

Family Nurse Practitioner I 471

 

HEENT:  Eyes

 

Screening Recommendations:

·        Healthy People 2000 – 80% of healthcare providers screen for vision, hearing, speech

·        For eyes, recommend screen begin at 3-4 years of age

·        American Optometric Association:  Comprehensive eye and vision exam q 1-2 years (ages 20-64), annually thereafter

·        American Academy of Ophthalmology:  q 2-4 years (ages 40-64), then q 1-2 years thereafter

 

More than 90% of older persons use corrective lenses at some point in time.

 

Age appropriate tests for visual acuity:

·        Birth-3 years:  red reflex, corneal & pupillary reflexes, tracking of visual stimuli

·        At 6 weeks, should demonstrate eye to eye contact, track slowly

·        At 3 months, should fix and follow at 2-3 feet

·        At 6 months, should show interest in objects, etc., across the room

·        2,5-3 years:  Allen cards (identify familiar objects:  star, boat, heart)

·        3 years +:  HOTV at 10 or 20 feet, Snellen E

·        HOTV (match hand held set of cards with one held by examiner)

·        Snellen E (point in the direction the “E” is pointing)

·        5 years +:  Snellen letter chart, copies line, circle, cross

·        Color vision:  Ishihara

 

Screening Basics:

·        Snellen chart – 20 feet away (may use E for illiterate)

·        Test each eye separately

·        Pass for the line if majority are identified.

·        May wear corrective lenses during screen.

·        If less than 20/40, refer to eye doctor.

·        If unable to see chart, then document as CF – counting fingers, HM – hand movement, LP – light perception

 

Visual Impairment:

·        20/80 or less is considered visually impaired

·        20/200 is considered legally blind

·        In most states, you need 20/40 (corrected) to obtain driver’s license

·        Most visual loss in adults is attributed to refractive error. 

·        Other causes include diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve disorders, etc.

 

Blepharitis

 

·        Definition:  inflammation involving the structures of the lid margin with redness, scaling and crusting. 

·        Etiology:  May be staphyloccocal or seborrheic. 

·        Epidemiology:  Tends to be chronic with acute flare-ups and is more common in fair-skinned people.

·        S/Sx:  If staphylococcal, dry scales, lash loss, sometimes conjunctivitis; If seborrheic, greasy scales and less redness

·        Treatment:  Usually responds to lid hygiene measures and topical antibiotics

·        Can instruct patient to dilute Johnson’s baby shampoo 50:50 with water and use a cotton ball to scrub the lids well with the eyes closed.

·        After rinsing with water, a hot compress is applied to the closed lids for 5-10 minutes, and then erythromycin or bacitracin ophthalmic ointment is instilled in the inferior fornix.

·        The excess is rubbed into the eyelash base.

·        Do this 3-4 times/day

·        After improvement is obtained, the lids can be maintained by nightly lid hygiene and warm compresses.

 

Hordeolum (stye)

·        Definition:  a small, pus-filed abscess involving the hair follicle of the eyelid

·        Etiology:  usually caused by staphylococcal infection; may be a secondary infection.

·        Epidemiology:  occurs most commonly in children and adolescents; occurs equally in men and in women

·        Contributing factors:  recurrent blepharitis, makeup, contact lens, poor eyelid hygiene, eye irritation from smoking

·        S/Sx:  papule on lid margin, erythematous, tender to palpation,

·        Physical exam (using gloves) reveals the head of the stye on the outside of the lid or when the eyelid is everted, on the underside

·        Tx:

·        Warm, moist compresses to the eyes several times a day.  Allow to open and drain spontaneously; do not squeeze.  (Pain decreases when stye opens and drains).

·        Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment tid thinly applied to area with a cotton-tipped applicator

·        Try gentamicin ophthalmic ointment if refractive to treatment

·        F/U:  2-3 weeks

·        Complications:  cellulitis of eyelid, repeated styes (if occurs, evaluate for DM)

·        Refer:  if draining of abscess needed


 

Chalazion

·        Definition:  a sterile granulomatous inflammation/mass of a meibomian (oil-secreting) gland on the upper or lower eyelid

·        Etiology:  Blockage in a duct leading to the eyelid surface from the gland or obstruction of a meibomian gland results in inflammation, the formation of a hard mass, and/or infection (usually from Staphylococcus).

·        Epidemiology:  occurs at any age; occurs equally in men and in women

·        S/Sx:  slow-developing, painless, hard mass with inflammation of the meibomian gland and possible involvement of the surrounding tissue.

·        Physical exam with eversion of the eyelid reveals a red, elevated mass that may become quite large and press against the eye, causing nystagmus

·        Dx. Tests:  visual exam (to R/O other problems), culture of drainage (if I & D is done), biopsy of recurrent chalazion to R/O malignancy

·        Tx:  warm compresses to area

·        Sulfacetamide sodium 10% ophthalmic ointment qid for 7 days thinly applied to the lid margin with a cotton-tipped applicator.

·        Antibiotic eye drops may be used to prevent secondary bacterial infection in other parts of the eye

·        F/U:  1 week; may take several weeks to months for complete resolution.  Recurrences common

·        Refer:  to ophthalmologist if visual change, pain or impairment to the eye; or if surgical removal needed.

 

Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

·        Definition:  duct fails to canalize at birth

·        S/Sx:  mucoid discharge, tearing in inner canthus

·        Tx.:  massage with expression toward nose

·        If purulent discharge, antibiotic ointment

·        May probe…usually after 1 year of age

 


The “Red Eye”

 

Conjunctivitis

·        Definition:  inflammation of the conjunctiva (mucous membranes) covering the front of the eye.  May also involve the palpebral and/or bulbar conjunctiva.

·        Etiology

·        Bacteria (Staph aureus, Strep pneumoniae, H flu, n. gonorrhea [usually 2-4 days after birth], or Branhamella catarrhalis)

·        Viruses (adenoviruses, herpes simplex, herpes zoster)

·        Allergens (linked to a humoral response and some autoimmune disorders)

·        Chlamydia (inclusion conjunctivities)

·        Association with certain systemic diseases, such as thyroid disorders and Reiter’s syndrome (idiopathic conjunctivitis)

·        Chronic use of eye medications over a long period of time (noninfectious conjunctivitis)

·        S/Sx: (use gloves for exam)

·        General:  burning and/or feeling of something being in the eye; may have itching, tearing, lid matting, and exudate.  Physical examination reveals a diffusely injected conjunctiva

·        Bacterial:  minimal pruritus, moderate tearing, and purulent exudates and matted lids in mornings; usually begins unilaterally, and then evolves into a bilateral process.

·        Viral:  usually bilateral, with copious tearing with little exudate and minimal pruritus.  Systemic viral symptoms such as preauricular adenopathy, fever, and malaise may also be present

·        Allergic:  presents bilaterally with severe itching, redness, and no exudate, clear tears.

·        Inclusion: photosensitivity, swollen eyelids (usually develops 5-10 days after exposure)

·        Differential diagnosis:  foreign body, corneal abrasion, herpes simplex, acute glaucoma, iritis, blepharitis, lacrimal duct obstruction

·        Tx: 

·        Bacterial: sulfacetamide 10-30% ophthalmic solution or 10% ointment for 3-7 days or gentamicin sulfate topical 3 mg/ml for 3-7 days

·        Allergic:  naphazoline HCl, phenylephrine HCl, ketorolac tromethamine (NSAID)

·        Viral:  idoxuridine 0.1% solution, 1 gtt q 1 h during day and q 2 hours during night or adenine arabinoside 3% ointment five times a day

·        F/U:  As needed

·        Complications:  blindness if not treated properly

·        Refer:  ophthalmologist as needed


 

Uveitis

·        Definition:  inflammation of the uveal tract, including the iris, ciliary body, and choroid

·        Diagnosis suggested by pain, photophobia, redness, and ciliary flush

·        Anterior uveitis = iritis

·        With posterior uveitis, inflammation is usually confined to the posterior choroid, which quickly spreads to the sensory retina, resulting in potential destruction of vision.

·        REFER

 

Iritis (anterior uveitis)

·        Definition:  Intraocular inflammation of the iris; most common form of uveitis

·        With iritis, the iris, ciliary body, and anterior choroid are usually all involved because of a common blood supply

·        Presents with eye pain, photophobia, redness, and pupillary contraction, slightly cloudy anterior chamber (note:  constricted [miotic] pupil does not react to light)

·        REFER

 

Keratitis (corneal inflammation or foreign body)

·        Corneal ulcers detected by fluorescein staining may be sterile or caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi; staining in a fine, branching pattern or broader defects with herpes simplex or herpes zoster

·        Corneal abrasions:  stain with fluorescein but have no infiltrate unless they are untreated for several days

·        Corneal foreign body – may cause tearing and hyperemia with little sensation of a foreign body; particularly true of rust rings left by ferrous foreign bodies

·        Dry eyes can cause intense reactions secondary to superficial keratitis, as does overwearing of contact lenses (corneal hypoxia) and ultraviolet keratitis.


 

Acute Glaucoma

·        Ocular emergency that presents as painful, red eye with prominent ciliary flush, pupil mid-dilated and fixed, cornea cloudy secondary to edema.

·        IOP > 40 mm Hg and may reach 70-80 mm Hg

·        Cloudy vision, colored rings around lights (due to corneal edema) and unilateral headache, often accompanied by N/V


Red Eye Decision Tree

 

Lid or lacrimal sac swelling or proptosis (downward displacement of eyeball)?

( * potentially dangerous red eyes requiring prompt, specialized care)

_______________________|_________________________

|                                                                                   |

YES:                                                                            NO:

·        Chronic blepharitis                                                  Subnormal visual acuity,

·        Stye                                                                       foreign-body sensation,

·        Chalazion                                                               severe pain, or

·        Dacryocystitis                                                         circumcorneal injection

·        Orbital cellulitis*                                                     (ciliary flush)?

·        Orbital inflammation*                                                          |

·        Orbital tumor*                                                                    |

________________________________________________|

YES:                                                                            NO:

·        Keratitis*                                                               Focal conjunctival redness?

·        Anterior uveitis*                                                                 |

·        Acute angle-closure glaucoma*                                           |

·        Epscleritis and scleritis*                                                      |

________________________________________________|

YES:                                                                            NO:

·        Inflamed pingueculum                                              Purulent discharge?

·        Pterygium                                                                           |

·        Subconjunctival hemorrhage                                                |

________________________________________________|

YES:                                                                            NO:

·        Bacterial conjunctivitis*                                           Itching?

________________________________________________|

YES:                                                                            NO:

·        Allergic conjunctivitis                                              Topical ocular medications,

cosmetics, environmental

pollutants?

________________________________________________|

YES:                                                                            NO:

·        Contact dermatoconjunctivitis                                 -  Viral conjunctivitis

·        Toxic conjunctivitis                                                 -  Chlamydial conjunctivitis       

-  Immunogenic conjunctivitis

-  Cavernous sinus arteriovenous fistula