Final answer:
Central retinal artery occlusion presents with sudden, painless vision loss, a cherry-red spot on the fovea during examination, and potential retinal arterial attenuation and retinal embolus revealed through ophthalmoscopy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clinical exam findings of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) are quite distinct and can be alarming to both the patient and the clinician. The hallmark sign of CRAO is sudden, painless vision loss in one eye. During an ophthalmoscopic examination, the retina may appear pale due to ischemia, with a characteristic cherry-red spot at the fovea, which is a sign of retinal hypoperfusion. The visual field test may reveal a marked reduction in field of vision. Additionally, the absence of the pupillary light reflex, known as a relative afferent pupillary defect, may be present and signifies that the affected eye is not perceiving light correctly due to retinal damage.
Other findings can include retinal arterial attenuation and the presence of a retinal embolus, which may be visible as a bright spot within the retinal arteries.