A nurse assesses an older adult client who lives alone and is unable to drive a vehicle. Which of the following assessment areas of the nutritional history will most likely impact the client's nutritional status?

A) Blockage of the tear ducts causing excessive tearing:

Blockage of tear ducts (dacryostenosis) results in excessive tearing (epiphora) due to inadequate drainage of tears into the nasal cavity. It does not directly contribute to glaucoma, which primarily involves increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and optic nerve damage.

B) Inflammation of the cornea resulting in blurry vision:

Corneal inflammation (keratitis) can cause blurry vision, pain, and sensitivity to light, but it is not the primary pathophysiology of glaucoma. Glaucoma primarily involves damage to the optic nerve due to elevated IOP.

C) Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) leading to optic nerve damage:

Glaucoma is characterized by elevated IOP, which puts pressure on the optic nerve and can lead to progressive damage and vision loss if untreated. This is the primary pathophysiological process in most types of glaucoma.

D) Degeneration of the lens leading to cataracts:

Cataracts involve the clouding of the lens of the eye, leading to visual impairment. While cataracts are a common condition in older adults, they are not directly related to the pathophysiology of glaucoma, which primarily involves elevated IOP and optic nerve damage.

A. Acanthosis Nigricans:

Acanthosis nigricans is characterized by dark, velvety patches of skin, often found in body folds such as the neck, armpits, and groin. It does not present as the yellow discoloration seen in the photo.

B. Cyanosis:

Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood. The image shows yellow discoloration, not the blue tint associated with cyanosis.

C. Jaundice:

Jaundice is indicated by a yellowish tint to the skin and sclera due to elevated bilirubin levels, commonly associated with liver dysfunction. The photo clearly shows this yellow discoloration, consistent with jaundice, often seen in chronic alcoholics with liver disease.

D. Carotenemia:

Carotenemia presents as a yellow-orange discoloration of the skin, especially on the palms and soles, due to high levels of carotene in the blood. It does not typically affect the sclera, which differentiates it from jaundice. The uniform yellowing of the skin and eyes in the photo aligns more with jaundice.