Question

A nurse at an urgent care clinic is assessing a client who reports impaired vision in one eye. Which of the following reports by the client should indicate to the nurse that the client has a detached retina?

a) Floating dark spots
b) Persistent tearing
c) Redness and itching
d) Blurred vision

Answer 1

The symptom of floating dark spots is indicative of a detached retina, which is a serious eye condition that may require laser surgery to repair.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse assessing a client who reports impaired vision in one eye needs to distinguish between different potential diagnoses. When the client reports experiencing floating dark spots, this symptom is indicative of a detached retina. A detached retina may also present as a shadow or curtain over part of the field of vision. In contrast, persistent tearing, redness and itching are more likely to suggest conjunctivitis or allergies, whereas blurred vision alone could indicate various conditions such as nearsightedness or cataract formation, where light is diffused by the cloudiness in the lens of the eye.

Treatment for a detached retina often involves using a laser to create burns around the detachment, prompting scar tissue formation that helps to hold the retina in place. This process uses the lens of the eye and a specialized device to focus the laser light onto a small spot on the retina. It's important that the laser light entering the eye is parallel to ensure accuracy during this procedure and prevent further damage.