How does a nurse assess the optic nerve during a neurological assessment?

Assessing visual acuity is a direct method for evaluating the function of the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain, and visual acuity tests measure how well a person can see details at a given distance. This is typically performed using a Snellen chart, where the patient reads letters or symbols at various sizes to determine the clarity of their vision.

Testing visual acuity provides insight into the integrity of the optic nerve and indicates whether there may be any neurological issues affecting vision. In contrast, testing the sense of smell evaluates the olfactory nerve, checking reflexes assesses other neural pathways, and evaluating eye pressure is typically part of an ophthalmologic examination focusing on the health of the eye, rather than the optic nerve function specifically.