If hypertensive chorioretinopathy is chronic or there is extensive retinal hemorrhage, the prognosis is ...

• A. Good
• B. Grave
• C. Excellent
• D. Guarded

Answer: (D)

In hypertensive chorioretinopathy, how the condition will affect vision depends on how long the high blood pressure has been damaging the eye and how extensive the retinal hemorrhages are. If the process is chronic or there are large, widespread hemorrhages, more retinal tissue has undergone damage and there’s a higher risk of lasting visual impairment. That meants the outlook isn’t clearly good or excellent, nor is it inevitably grave; it’s guarded—uncertain and contingent on effective blood pressure control and recovery of retinal health. In short, ongoing, widespread damage signals a cautious prognosis with potential vision compromise.