Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What clinical finding is indicated by blurred disc margins in both eyes during an exam?

1. Normal optic disc

2. Optic neuropathy

3. Papilledema

4. Hypertensive retinopathy

The correct answer is: Papilledema

Blurred disc margins in both eyes during an exam are a significant clinical finding often indicative of papilledema. Papilledema refers to the swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure. This swelling can cause the margins of the optic disc to appear indistinct or blurred, distinguishing it from other conditions where the disc margins remain well-defined. In the context of the other potential answers, a normal optic disc would have clear and sharp margins, while optic neuropathy could lead to changes in the disc but does not specifically present with blurred margins in both eyes. Hypertensive retinopathy might show changes in the retina, such as cotton wool spots or hemorrhages, but again does not typically present with blurred disc margins. Thus, the clinical finding of blurred disc margins in both eyes is most closely aligned with papilledema, making it the correct answer.