A client was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur and is asking the nurse for more information. The nurse will educate the client that a heart murmur:

A. The pupils constrict when the examiner's index finger slowly moves toward the client's nose.

This statement is correct. Visual accommodation is the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus on objects at varying distances. When an object moves closer to the eyes, the pupils constrict to adjust and focus on the near object, preventing double vision.

B. The client involuntarily blinks in the presence of bright light directed over the pupils during the eye exam.

This statement describes the pupillary light reflex, not visual accommodation. The pupillary light reflex is the response of the pupils to light exposure.

C. The client's peripheral vision becomes sharper when the examiner shines a light over the pupils.

This statement is not accurate. Peripheral vision sharpness is not related to visual accommodation. Visual accommodation mainly involves adjusting focus for objects at varying distances.

D. The pupils dilate when the examiner's index finger slowly moves toward the client's nose.

This statement is incorrect. Pupils should constrict, not dilate, when focusing on a near object (as in visual accommodation). Dilation occurs in low-light conditions or in response to sympathetic stimulation.

A. The eyes converge to focus on the light.

This statement refers to the convergence reflex, where both eyes move medially (towards each other) to maintain single binocular vision when focusing on a near object. It is not related to the pupillary light reflex, which involves changes in pupil size in response to light.

B. The eye focuses the image in the center of the pupil.

This choice does not accurately describe the pupillary light reflex. The pupillary light reflex involves constriction of the pupil in response to light, not focusing an image in the center of the pupil.

C. Dilation of both pupils occurs in response to bright light.

This statement is incorrect. In response to bright light, the pupils should constrict, not dilate. Dilation of pupils in bright light could indicate an abnormal response, such as in cases of certain neurological conditions or drug use.

D. Constriction of both pupils occurs in response to bright light.

This choice is correct. In the pupillary light reflex, both pupils constrict when exposed to bright light. This response is a protective mechanism to prevent excessive light from entering the eyes, ensuring optimal visual acuity.