A nurse at an ophthalmology clinic Is providing teaching to a client who has open-angle glaucoma and a new treatment regimen of timolol and pilocarpine eye drops. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide?
A.
Administer the medications by touching the tip of the dropper to the sclera of the eye
B.
Hold the pressure on the conjunctiva sac for 2 mm following application of drops
C.
Administer the mediations 5 mm apart.
D.
It is not necessary to remove contact lenses before administering medications.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Administer the medications 5 minutes apart.
Explanation:
Open-angle glaucoma is a chronic condition characterized by the gradual loss of vision due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages the optic nerve. The treatment aims to reduce IOP, and eye drops like timolol and pilocarpine are commonly prescribed for this purpose.
Timolol is a beta-blocker that reduces the production of aqueous humor, thereby lowering IOP. Pilocarpine is a cholinergic agent that increases the outflow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork. These medications work through different mechanisms, and both are essential in managing glaucoma.
When administering multiple types of eye drops, it’s crucial to wait at least 5 minutes between applying each medication. This is to prevent one medication from washing out the other, which could reduce the effectiveness of both. If eye drops are administered too close together, the first drop might be diluted or flushed out by the second, compromising the therapeutic effect.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- Option A: “Administer the medications by touching the tip of the dropper to the sclera of the eye” is incorrect. The dropper tip should never touch any part of the eye or surrounding structures, including the sclera, as this can introduce bacteria and cause contamination of the medication.
- Option B: “Hold the pressure on the conjunctiva sac for 2 minutes following application of drops” is incorrect. The correct technique involves applying gentle pressure on the nasolacrimal duct (inner corner of the eye) for about 1-2 minutes after administration. This reduces systemic absorption and ensures the medication stays in the eye.
- Option D: “It is not necessary to remove contact lenses before administering medications” is incorrect. Contact lenses should be removed before applying eye drops, as they can absorb the medication, reducing its effectiveness, and potentially cause irritation.
In summary, instructing the client to administer the medications 5 minutes apart (option C) is essential for ensuring the effectiveness of the treatment regimen and maintaining proper eye health.