A patient who has had surgery this morning for cataracts is now going home. What should the nurse include when providing discharge instructions? (Select all that apply.)

a) A red, dull, thick, and immobile tympanic membrane: In acute otitis media, the tympanic membrane typically appears red, dull, thickened, and may be immobile due to fluid and infection in the middle ear.
b) A transparent and clear tympanic membrane: This would suggest a healthy, non-infected ear, which is not expected in acute otitis media.
c) A pink-colored tympanic membrane: This is not a typical finding in acute otitis media; a pink membrane is more characteristic of a healthy ear.
d) A pearly colored tympanic membrane: A pearly color is normal for the tympanic membrane, indicating a healthy ear with no infection.

a) Decreasing viscosity of the tears and allowing fluid to drain away from the eye: This is incorrect. Osmotic agents do not act by affecting the viscosity of tears or enhancing drainage.
b) Increasing plasma osmolarity and drawing extracellular fluid into the blood: Osmotic agents, like mannitol, work by increasing plasma osmolarity, which draws excess fluid from the eye into the bloodstream, thereby lowering intraocular pressure.
c) Blocking production of aqueous humor: This is incorrect. Blocking production of aqueous humor is the mechanism of action of medications like beta-blockers (e.g., timolol), not osmotic agents.
d) Promoting outflow of the aqueous humor into the tear ducts: This is incorrect. Promoting outflow of aqueous humor is the mechanism of action for other medications, such as prostaglandin analogs, not osmotic agents.