Final answer:
Clients on latanoprost should be educated on proper medication application, potential side effects, maintaining the dropper's cleanliness, and the need to monitor intraocular pressure regularly using a tonometer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Client Teaching for Latanoprost Use
Latanoprost is a medication prescribed to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with glaucoma or high eye pressure. For clients taking latanoprost, it is important to reinforce that regular monitoring of IOP is crucial, as people over 40 years of age are at a greater risk of developing glaucoma. Monitoring is often done using a tonometer, which can measure the pressure inside the eye and detect excessive IOP reliably. When providing client education, emphasize the importance of:
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- Applying the medication exactly as prescribed by the healthcare provider.
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- Understanding the potential side effects of latanoprost, such as eye redness, changes in eyelash growth, or a gradual change in eye color.
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- Avoiding touching the dropper tip to keep it free from contaminants.
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- Reporting any severe or unexpected symptoms to their healthcare provider immediately.
Moreover, clients should be educated that a high intraocular force can be analogous to a 680-g mass resting on the eye, which is capable of causing damage, whereas a normal force might be similar to a mass of 120 g.