A 68-year-old woman is in the eye clinic for a checkup. She tells the nurse that she has been having trouble reading the paper, sewing, and even seeing the faces of her grandchildren. On examination, the nurse notes that she has some loss of central vision but her peripheral vision is normal. What do these findings suggest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Macular degeneration is characterized by the loss of central vision and is the most common cause of blindness. Cataracts would show lens opacity. Chronic open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, involves a gradual loss of peripheral vision. These findings are not consistent with normal vision at this, or any, age. These findings are not consistent with normal vision at this, or any, age. The increased intraocular pressure of chronic open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, involves a gradual loss of peripheral vision but not central vision. The symptoms this patient has suggest macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is characterized by the loss of central vision and is the most common cause of blindness.

A 68-Year-Old Woman Is in the Eye Clinic for a Checkup