Question

A 45-year-old man complains of bilateral, intermittent itchy eyes, often accompanied by rope-like discharge and without vision change or eye pain. The nurse practitioner expects that the history will include a patient report of:

a) Trauma to the eye.
b) Sexually transmitted infection.
c) Seasonal allergies
d) Decreased visual acuity.

Answer 1

The reported symptoms of bilateral, intermittent itchy eyes with rope-like discharge and no vision change or eye pain are indicative of seasonal allergies, which the nurse practitioner would expect to find in the patient's history.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 45-year-old man's bilateral, intermittent itchy eyes, accompanied by rope-like discharge without vision change or eye pain, suggest a diagnosis in alignment with seasonal allergies. These symptoms, especially the absence of acute pain or vision change, are less indicative of bacterial or viral infections, which might present with purulent discharge and the potential for more severe eye symptoms, including visual impairment.

Allergic reactions, such as those presented in allergic rhinitis commonly known as hay fever, cause itchy and watery eyes and are typically associated with immune responses to harmless substances like pollen. Therefore, in this clinical scenario, the nurse practitioner would expect the history to include reports consistent with seasonal allergies.