Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The patient's symptoms of sudden onset 'floaters', flashes of light, and a 'curtain' coming down over the field of vision are classic signs of a retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from its attachments to underlying tissue, which if left untreated, can lead to permanent vision loss. It is crucial for medical personnel to recognize these symptoms and refer the patient to an ophthalmologist for urgent evaluation. Papilledema, while also a serious condition, typically presents with other signs such as headache and visual acuity changes and is associated with increased intracranial pressure. Glaucoma is typically associated with eye pain and may present with nausea and a 'halo' effect around lights, not the ‘curtain’ effect or floaters typically reported in retinal detachment. Cataracts are a gradual clouding of the lens and do not present acutely with floaters and flashes of light.