A 46-year-old patient calls the clinic and reports sudden “floating dark spots” in her vision. What should the nurse say to the patient?
AAdvise the patient to immediately call her ophthalmologist
BAdvise the patient that this is normal for her age
CAsk the patient if the spots were accompanied by pain
DTell the patient to mention this during her annual eye appointment
Explanations
A
Correct
Sudden onset of floaters may indicate retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage, which requires urgent evaluation.
B
Incorrect
While occasional floaters can be benign, sudden new floaters are abnormal and potentially serious.
C
Incorrect
Retinal detachment is often painless, so waiting for pain delays necessary care.
D
Incorrect
Delaying evaluation could result in permanent vision loss.
Study Notes
The appearance of many bits of debris (floaters), sudden flashes of light, or a shadow in the vision field are symptoms of retinal detachment. The patient needs to seek medical care for intervention to prevent permanent vision loss.