Question

During your assessment of a patient who experienced blunt facial trauma, you note the presence of a hyphema. This indicates:

A) a fracture of the nasal bone.
B) an orbital blowout fracture.
C) direct trauma to the eyeball.
D) that the pupils are unequal.

Answer 1

A hyphema indicates direct trauma to the eyeball and is the presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye, signifying an injury to the eye's internal structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

A hyphema is the presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye, which is the space between the cornea and the iris. This condition is typically a sign of direct trauma to the eyeball. Upon assessing a patient with blunt facial trauma, the discovery of a hyphema specifically indicates that there has been an injury to the eye itself, which may involve damage to the structures within the eye, such as the iris, lens, or other surrounding tissues. It does not necessarily indicate a fracture, such as a nasal bone fracture, an orbital blowout fracture, or imply that the pupils are unequal, which is known as anisocoria. Instead, a hyphema points to a risk of increased intraocular pressure or other complications that may lead to vision loss if not properly addressed.