What sign is indicative of chronic hypertension in an eye examination?

AV nicking is a significant sign observed during an eye examination that indicates chronic hypertension. This finding results from changes in the retinal blood vessels due to prolonged high blood pressure. In patients with chronic hypertension, the arterioles in the eyes may become narrowed and their appearance altered, leading to observable notches or 'nicking' at the points where arteries cross over veins in the retina. This arterial-venous cross-sectional change is a direct response to elevated systemic blood pressure and serves as an important clinical marker for chronic hypertension.

Recognizing AV nicking helps healthcare providers monitor the complications associated with hypertension, such as retinopathy, and prompts further evaluation and management of the patient's cardiovascular health. Other options like corneal abrasion, visual field constriction, and retinal detachment do not specifically signify chronic hypertension and are related to other ocular pathologies.