Glaucoma — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
↑IOP → optic nerve damageAlso known as: high eye pressure · increased intraocular pressure · glaucoma · tunnel vision disease
Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Glaucoma on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
🩺📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
📌 Types
- Open-angle: gradual, painless
- Angle-closure: sudden, EMERGENCY
🩺 Signs
- Peripheral vision loss first
- Tunnel vision, halos around lights
- Acute: severe pain, N/V, red eye
🧪 Meds
- Pilocarpine, timolol, latanoprost
- Goal: ↓IOP, lifelong drops
📌 Avoid
- No anticholinergics → dilate, ↑IOP
- Vision loss is permanent
📚 Glaucoma — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Key points
Understand these first- Normal intraocular pressure is about 10 to 21 mmHg; glaucoma involves elevated pressure damaging the optic nerve.
- Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma develops gradually with painless loss of peripheral vision and eventual tunnel vision.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma causes sudden severe eye pain, headache, nausea, halos around lights, and a fixed mid-dilated pupil.
- Damage and vision loss from glaucoma are permanent, so early detection and ongoing treatment are essential.
- Risk factors include age, family history, African or Hispanic ancestry, and diabetes.
Nursing priorities
What to do, in order- Administer prescribed eye drops on schedule (beta-blockers, prostaglandins, alpha-agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors) to lower IOP.
- Teach correct drop instillation and punctal occlusion (press inner corner 1 minute) to limit systemic absorption.
- For acute angle-closure, treat as an emergency: notify provider, give IOP-lowering drugs (acetazolamide, mannitol, miotics), prepare for laser iridotomy.
- Reinforce lifelong adherence to therapy and regular IOP and visual-field monitoring.
- Modify the environment for safety because of reduced peripheral vision.
Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately- Sudden severe eye pain with nausea, halos, and blurred vision indicates acute angle-closure glaucoma; emergency referral.
- Avoid medications and activities that dilate the pupil (anticholinergics, atropine) in angle-closure-prone patients.
- Untreated rising IOP causes permanent blindness; report any new vision changes promptly.
- Do not abruptly stop glaucoma drops without provider guidance.
Patient teaching
What patients must know- Use eye drops exactly as prescribed every day, even without symptoms, because vision loss cannot be reversed.
- Press on the inner corner of the eye after drops to reduce systemic side effects.
- Avoid activities that raise eye pressure such as heavy lifting and straining, and keep all eye appointments.
❓ Glaucoma: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Glaucoma?
Administer prescribed eye drops on schedule (beta-blockers, prostaglandins, alpha-agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors) to lower IOP. Teach correct drop instillation and punctal occlusion (press inner corner 1 minute) to limit systemic absorption. For acute angle-closure, treat as an emergency: notify provider, give IOP-lowering drugs (acetazolamide, mannitol, miotics), prepare for laser iridotomy. Reinforce lifelong adherence to therapy and regular IOP and visual-field monitoring.
What are the warning signs of Glaucoma a nurse must report?
Sudden severe eye pain with nausea, halos, and blurred vision indicates acute angle-closure glaucoma; emergency referral. Avoid medications and activities that dilate the pupil (anticholinergics, atropine) in angle-closure-prone patients. Untreated rising IOP causes permanent blindness; report any new vision changes promptly. Do not abruptly stop glaucoma drops without provider guidance.
What do I need to know about Glaucoma for the NCLEX?
Normal intraocular pressure is about 10 to 21 mmHg; glaucoma involves elevated pressure damaging the optic nerve. Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma develops gradually with painless loss of peripheral vision and eventual tunnel vision. Acute angle-closure glaucoma causes sudden severe eye pain, headache, nausea, halos around lights, and a fixed mid-dilated pupil. Damage and vision loss from glaucoma are permanent, so early detection and ongoing treatment are essential.
What patient teaching is important for Glaucoma?
Use eye drops exactly as prescribed every day, even without symptoms, because vision loss cannot be reversed. Press on the inner corner of the eye after drops to reduce systemic side effects. Avoid activities that raise eye pressure such as heavy lifting and straining, and keep all eye appointments.
Quick Tip
Normal intraocular pressure is about 10 to 21 mmHg; glaucoma involves elevated pressure damaging the optic nerve.
📖 Related Topics
Master Glaucoma with practice, not just reading
4,000+ NCLEX-style questions with rationales, 51 interactive NGN cases, and an AI tutor — free every day, no card needed.
Practice Physiological Adaptation questions free →One account — your progress syncs across phone, tablet & laptop.