Question

During a funduscopic examination of a school-age child, the nurse notes a brilliant, uniform red reflex in both eyes. The nurse should recognize that this is which?

a. An indication of cataracts.
b. A normal finding.
c. A sign of retinal detachment.
d. A symptom of glaucoma.

Answer 1

Observing a brilliant, uniform red reflex in both eyes during a funduscopic examination is a normal finding and suggests no abnormalities like cataracts or retinal detachment.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a funduscopic examination, observing a brilliant, uniform red reflex in both eyes of a school-age child indicates a normal finding. The red reflex is caused by the reflection of light off the retina, similar to the red-eye effect sometimes seen in flash photography. If the reflex were absent or abnormal, it might signify conditions such as cataracts (where light is dispersed or diffused by the cloudiness in the lens), retinal detachment, or other eye disorders. The presence of a uniform red reflex suggests that there are no such opacities or abnormalities obstructing the path of the light through the clear media of the eye to the retina.