A 50-year-old hypertensive patient exhibits blurred disc margins during an eye exam. What is this finding called?

The finding of blurred disc margins during an eye exam is referred to as papilledema. This condition is indicative of increased intracranial pressure, which can occur due to various reasons, including hypertension. When the pressure increases, it can cause swelling at the optic disc, leading to the blurring of its margins. This is an important clinical finding that requires further evaluation, as it may signal serious underlying conditions that need to be addressed.

In contrast, normal optic discs would have clearly defined margins and would not show any signs of swelling or blurring. Optic neuropathy, while it involves damage to the optic nerve, does not specifically manifest as blurred margins of the optic disc. Hypertensive retinopathy involves changes in the retinal blood vessels due to chronic hypertension, but is not specifically identified by blurred disc margins.