ABSTRACT
The focus of this article is to discuss the care given to an elderly lady, Mrs Pitt, (a pseudonym) who is suffering from Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and attending our Out Patient Department (OPD). It will start with a brief description of diabetes and the associated complications, and then give a more in-depth description of DR and the relevant anatomy and physiology. It will then give details of Mrs Pitt's history and her current care and treatment. All information will be supported by current, relevant literature.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Retinopathy/therapy , Nurse's Role , Operating Room Nursing/organization & administration , Perioperative Care/nursing , Aged , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/etiology , Female , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Injections , Light Coagulation/methods , Light Coagulation/nursing , Models, Nursing , Nursing Assessment , Patient Care Planning/organization & administration , Patient Education as Topic , Perioperative Care/organization & administration , Vision Screening , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
Choroidal melanoma is a rare and deadly cancer. Nursing care for these patients involves ophthalmic clinical expertise as well as psychosocial and emotional support. Although past research has been helpful in determining the prognosis of these patients, it is impossible to predict with certainty which patients have tumors or nevi that will grow, will compromise their vision, or will kill them. Providing emotional support, establishing a good rapport with the patients and their support persons, and encouraging patients to schedule and adhere to their mutually agreed on follow-up appointments are nursing interventions that may save or prolong a patient's life.
Subject(s)
Choroid Neoplasms/nursing , Melanoma/nursing , Adult , Choroid Neoplasms/surgery , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Iodine Radioisotopes/therapeutic use , Light Coagulation/nursing , Melanoma/surgery , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/nursing , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiotherapy , Nursing Diagnosis , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic/nursingABSTRACT
Retinoblastoma, although a rare childhood cancer, is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor of infancy and early childhood. In 75% of the cases, retinoblastoma is unilateral, and in 25% of the cases, retinoblastoma is bilateral. Presenting signs and symptoms of retinoblastoma, genetics, diagnostic tests, and their implications are reviewed in this paper. Treatment options for retinoblastoma (enucleation, external beam radiation, radioactive plaque, cryotherapy, photocoagulation, and chemotherapy) and their nursing care are discussed. Finally, second tumors such as osteosarcomas are discussed.
Subject(s)
Eye Neoplasms/nursing , Retinoblastoma/nursing , Cryosurgery/nursing , Drug Therapy/nursing , Eye Enucleation/nursing , Eye Neoplasms/diagnosis , Eye Neoplasms/therapy , Humans , Light Coagulation/nursing , Radiotherapy/nursing , Retinoblastoma/diagnosis , Retinoblastoma/therapyABSTRACT
Ophthalmologists have been searching for a treatment to control intraocular pressure in difficult cases of glaucoma. The ideal treatment is one that is simple and effective and has few side effects. Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is less damaging to the ciliary process than cyclocryotherapy in which a probe cooled to -112 degrees F (-80 degrees C) with nitrous oxide gas is applied to the conjunctiva to destruct the ciliary body. Because of the large area that comes in contact with the probe, the patient usually experiences severe pain immediately after surgery. The recent availability of the Nd:YAG lasers with a free-running mode of operation has given physicians a wider range of laser energy and has raised the hope that this treatment technique may be more generally available.
