Final answer:
The nurse should administer an antiemetic as prescribed to address nausea and severe eye pain over the operative site after cataract surgery. Rubbing the eye or applying a warm compress should be avoided. A cataract causes light dispersion and a postoperative spectacle lens of about 16 D is needed to compensate for the loss of the eye's natural lens refractive power.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a cataract extraction patient complains of nausea and severe eye pain over the operative site during the early postoperative stage, the appropriate action by the nurse would be Option 1: Administer an antiemetic as prescribed. Nausea can be a side effect of anesthesia and the stress from surgery. Severe eye pain may indicate increased intraocular pressure or other complications, which necessitates swift action. Antiemetics can help control nausea and prevent further discomfort or vomiting that could increase pressure on the eye. It is crucial not to encourage the client to rub their eye (Option 3) or apply pressure through a warm compress (Option 4), as this could exacerbate any existing condition and potentially harm the surgical site. Dimming the lights (Option 2) may provide comfort but does not directly address the nausea and eye pain.
Regarding the conceptual questions about cataract and laser surgery in the eye: A cataract is cloudiness in the lens of the eye that causes light to be dispersed or diffused. The spectacle lens of about 16 D is prescribed to persons whose lens has been removed because following cataract extraction, there's a significant loss of refractive power, which needs to be compensated to restore clear vision.
When laser light is shone into a relaxed normal-vision eye to repair a tear, the rays entering the eye must be parallel to ensure precision and prevent damage to other parts of the eye. Parallel rays of light can be focused accurately on the retina to perform the spot-welding necessary for repairing a tear.