What are the nursing diagnoses for cataracts?
Nov 19, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Lei
Introduction
Nursing diagnoses for cataracts generally include altered sensory perception (decreased vision), risk for injury, anxiety, knowledge deficit, and potential complications (postoperative infection). Altered sensory perception (decreased vision): due to lens opacity causing abnormal light refraction, patients experience progressive vision loss, manifesting as blurred vision and double vision, which affects daily activities such as reading and walking.
The nursing diagnoses for cataracts generally include altered sensory perception (decreased vision), risk for injury, anxiety, knowledge deficit, and potential complications (postoperative infection), among others. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Altered sensory perception (decreased vision): Lens opacity causes abnormal light refraction, leading to progressive vision loss in patients. This manifests as blurred vision or double vision, affecting daily activities such as reading and walking. Nursing interventions should aim to improve visual experience and minimize the impact of vision problems on daily life.
2. Risk for injury: Reduced vision impairs the patient's ability to perceive and judge their surroundings, increasing the likelihood of accidents such as collisions or falls when walking, climbing stairs, or handling objects. Nursing care should emphasize environmental safety to reduce the risk of injury.
3. Anxiety: Patients may feel anxious about declining quality of life due to vision loss or have concerns regarding surgical outcomes and postoperative recovery. This anxiety may lead to sleep disturbances and emotional fluctuations. Nurses should provide communication and psychological support to alleviate mental stress.
4. Knowledge deficit: Patients often lack sufficient understanding of cataract etiology, disease progression, treatment options, and postoperative care. This may result in poor eye-use habits or non-compliance with treatment. Nursing care should include health education to enhance patient awareness and understanding.
5. Complication (postoperative infection): Cataract surgery is an invasive eye procedure. If ocular hygiene is inadequate post-surgery or prescribed medications are not used properly, eye infections may occur, presenting as eye pain, redness, swelling, and increased discharge. Nursing care must focus on preventing infection.
Throughout the nursing process, regular assessment of patients' visual changes is essential, with timely adjustments to the care plan. Postoperatively, patients should be instructed on proper use of eye drops and maintenance of ocular hygiene. Patient psychological status should be monitored, questions answered patiently, and confidence in treatment strengthened to promote recovery.
