Cataract: rubella: 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 · Cataract: rubella

Sample item

An infant of a mother who had rubella in the first trimester has a white pupil with a dense pearly nucleus. What is notable about the virus?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. It can persist in the lens for years

Rubella virus survives in lens tissue for long and may cause postoperative uveitis after surgery. The triad of congenital rubella includes cataract, cardiac disease and deafness, with salt-and-pepper retinopathy.

Option by option

  • A. It causes only cortical opacities

    Rubella causes a dense nuclear cataract.

  • B. It is cleared by 6 weeks of age

    Persistence in the lens is well documented.

  • C. It can persist in the lens for years (correct)

    Correct. Viable virus persists in the lens.

  • D. It never involves the retina

    Salt-and-pepper retinopathy is common.

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.

More Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is C, It can persist in the lens for years. Rubella virus survives in lens tissue for long and may cause postoperative uveitis after surgery.

Why is "It causes only cortical opacities" not the answer?

Rubella causes a dense nuclear cataract.

Why is "It is cleared by 6 weeks of age" not the answer?

Persistence in the lens is well documented.

Why is "It never involves the retina" not the answer?

Salt-and-pepper retinopathy is common.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cataract: rubella in Ophthalmology. The triad of congenital rubella includes cataract, cardiac disease and deafness, with salt-and-pepper retinopathy.

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 Cataract: rubella?

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.