A patient complains that sometimes there appears to be gnats in the field of vision. The nurse would interpret this statement to mean that the patient has which visual change?

Question

1. Conjunctivitis
2. Floaters
3. Strabismus
4. Nystagmus

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The main symptom is a discharge from the eyes.
Rationale 2: The vitreous gel is made up mainly of water with a collagen framework. The network can be aggregated by vitreous collapse due to aging and form opacities that cast shadows on the retina. These shadows are referred to as floaters. The patient may describe seeing gnats or a fine filament floating in the line of sight.
Rationale 3: Strabismus is a functional misalignment of the extraocular muscles that causes the eyes not to focus together.
Rationale 4: Nystagmus is an involuntary tremor or jerky movement of the eyeball.