Retinal vascular disease: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Retinal vascular disease

Sample item

Which retinal finding can occur with severe hypertensive retinopathy?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Cotton-wool spots and retinal hemorrhages

Severe hypertension can injure retinal arterioles and cause hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, hard exudates, and sometimes optic-disc swelling, providing a visible marker of systemic end-organ damage.

Option by option

  • A. A clear crystalline lens only

    Lens clarity does not exclude retinal vascular disease.

  • B. A foreign body in the ear canal

    Ear foreign bodies are unrelated to retinal examination.

  • C. A normal optic disc in every case

    Optic-disc swelling can occur in malignant hypertension.

  • D. Cotton-wool spots and retinal hemorrhages (correct)

    Correct: cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages can reflect severe hypertensive retinal injury.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is D, Cotton-wool spots and retinal hemorrhages. Severe hypertension can injure retinal arterioles and cause hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, hard exudates, and sometimes optic-disc swelling, providing a visible marker of systemic end-organ damage.

Why is "A clear crystalline lens only" not the answer?

Lens clarity does not exclude retinal vascular disease.

Why is "A foreign body in the ear canal" not the answer?

Ear foreign bodies are unrelated to retinal examination.

Why is "A normal optic disc in every case" not the answer?

Optic-disc swelling can occur in malignant hypertension.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retinal vascular disease in Ophthalmology. The correct option holds because: Correct: cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages can reflect severe hypertensive retinal injury.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Retinal vascular disease?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.