HESI (Health and Environmental Sciences Institute) Health Assessment Practice Test

A patient with retinal damage reports seeing shadows in one quadrant of his vision. This symptom suggests:

1. Loss of central vision

2. Shadow or diminished vision in one quadrant

3. Loss of peripheral vision

4. Sudden loss of pupillary constriction

The correct answer is: Shadow or diminished vision in one quadrant

The report of seeing shadows in one quadrant of the vision is indicative of a localized deficit in visual perception. Specifically, this symptom relates to the concept of scotoma, which refers to an area of diminished or absent vision within the visual field. When a patient perceives shadows in one quadrant, it suggests that there is a functional impairment in that particular area, resulting in shadowy or diminished vision. This condition can occur due to various reasons, including retinal damage, such as a detachment or macular degeneration affecting specific regions of the retina. In contrast, the other options refer to different visual disturbances. Loss of central vision typically indicates damage affecting the central retinal areas, leading to problems with detailed vision or the ability to see directly ahead. Loss of peripheral vision refers to difficulties in seeing objects outside of the central visual field, which is not consistent with the patient’s report of shadows specifically in one quadrant. Sudden loss of pupillary constriction pertains to neurological or muscular issues affecting the pupils, not directly related to the type of visual distortions described. Thus, the description of shadowy vision localized to one area aligns directly with the manifestation of shadow or diminished vision in that quadrant.