Which ocular finding is associated with hypertension?

Arterio-venous nicking is considered an important ocular finding associated with hypertension. This phenomenon occurs when the central retinal vein crosses under an arteriole, leading to a visible indentation or nick in the vein. The increased pressure and damage from hypertension can cause structural changes in blood vessels, including the narrowing of the arterioles and changes in the veins through which blood flows. This alteration creates a distinct appearance where the vein seems to be pinched at the crossing point. Thus, arterio-venous nicking is a key indicator that a patient may have hypertension and helps in the assessment of retinal health related to systemic conditions.

The other options represent different ocular findings that are not directly linked to hypertension. For instance, a cherry red spot is typically seen in conditions like central retinal artery occlusion and is not associated with high blood pressure. An increased cup-to-disk ratio is primarily associated with glaucoma rather than hypertension, and a retinal nevus is a benign pigmented lesion in the retina that does not correlate with hypertensive changes.