Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

An opaque grayish ring at the corneal edge in an older patient is characteristic of which condition?

1. Cataracts

2. Macular degeneration

3. Presbyopia

4. Arcus senilis

The correct answer is: Arcus senilis

The presence of an opaque grayish ring at the edge of the cornea in an older patient is primarily indicative of arcus senilis. This condition occurs due to the deposition of lipid materials in the corneal stroma and is commonly seen in older adults as a normal aging change. While it can occasionally be associated with hyperlipidemia in younger individuals, its appearance in older individuals is typically benign and often just a sign of aging, not a disease. Cataracts, on the other hand, would present with clouding of the lens leading to blurred vision, while macular degeneration affects the central part of the retina and can result in vision loss but does not produce a visible ring around the cornea. Presbyopia, a condition related to aging vision that affects the ability to focus on close objects, does not have a physical manifestation like a ring, and is more about refractive changes. Therefore, arcus senilis is the most accurate answer for describing this specific ocular finding in older patients.