Sensory: Caring for optical aids
Transcript
Many of your clients will wear glasses or contact lenses, which are commonly used to correct vision. Contact lenses are made to adhere to the cornea, which is a transparent part of the eye in front of the iris. They can be rigid gas permeable or soft lenses. Rigid gas permeable lenses are made of firm plastic that allows oxygen to pass through it and are smaller than the cornea. Soft contact lenses are made of flexible plastic that covers the entire cornea plus a small area around it.
Now, there are a few common reasons why an individual would need glasses or contact lenses: nearsightedness or myopia, which is a disorder when the eyes can’t focus on faraway objects; farsightedness, or hyperopia, which is a disorder usually present at birth when the eyes can’t focus on close objects; astigmatism, which occurs when the cornea or the lens inside the eye is irregularly shaped, so the vision is distorted or blurry; and presbyopia, which is a natural part of the aging process that occurs when the eyes can no longer focus on objects close-by.
Some of your clients might have an artificial or prosthetic eye because their natural eye was surgically removed, usually, due to an injury, infection, eye tumor or a disorder called glaucoma, which happens when the pressure inside the eye gets too high, causing damage to the nerves and blood vessels.
Now, some of your clients will be able to take care of their own eyeglasses, contact lenses, or artificial eye, but others might need your help. There are a few things to remember before the procedure. Inform your clients about the procedure, and explain it to them. Your clients aren’t able to see well without their visual aids, so make sure they are not standing or walking during the procedure as they could injure themselves. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and artificial eyes are expensive, so make sure that they are not damaged or lost. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and artificial eyes should have their containers labeled with the client’s name, bed and room number, and they should always be kept in the same place (like in the top drawer of the bedside stand.) Eyeglasses should be cleaned every day and whenever they get dirty. Contact lenses should be removed from the eyes and cleaned periodically to prevent eye injury and infection. Be especially diligent about your own hand hygiene when handling a client’s glasses or contact lenses.
When caring for the client’s eyeglasses, you will need the eyeglass case, cleaning solution or soap and warm water, and a disposable cotton cloth or special lens cloth.
Key Takeaways
Optical aids, such as glasses or contact lenses, are an important part of many people's daily lives and require proper care to maintain their functionality and longevity. Here are some useful tips that can help when caring for clients with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Help the clients with the cleaning of their glasses or contact lenses regularly with a cleaning solution and a soft cloth. Do not use tap water, as it may contain minerals that can damage the lenses. Avoid using your shirt or other rough surfaces to clean your lenses, as this can scratch them. When not in use, store your glasses in a hard case to protect them from scratches and damage. If you wear contact lenses, store them in the appropriate solution to keep them hydrated and free of debris.
Note that there are some situations that you need to report immediately. First, if the client complains of eye pain, itchiness, redness, irritation, blurred vision, or about the contact lenses being uncomfortable. For clients with artificial eyes, report if there are a lot of drainages or if there's an abnormal odor. Finally, document the date, time, and place you took part in assisting the client with eye care and also any unusual observations.