Question

A patient with primary hypertension comes to the clinic complaining of a gradual onset of blurry vision and decreased visual acuity. The nurse is aware that these symptoms could be indicative of what?

A) Retinal blood vessel damage
B) Chronic kidney disease
C) Impending stroke
D) Hypertensive emergency

Answer 1

Blurry vision and decreased visual acuity in a patient with hypertension may indicate retinal blood vessel damage, or hypertensive retinopathy, resulting from high blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with primary hypertension complaining of a gradual onset of blurry vision and decreased visual acuity could be indicative of retinal blood vessel damage. This condition, known as hypertensive retinopathy, occurs when high blood pressure causes changes to the blood vessels in the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain. As hypertension often does not cause early symptoms, it's critical that individuals with high blood pressure monitor their condition regularly to prevent or mitigate damage to the retinal blood vessels and maintain good eye health.