Retina: retinitis pigmentosa: 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 · Retina: retinitis pigmentosa

Sample item

A teenager has night blindness, tunnel vision, bone-spicule pigmentation, arteriolar attenuation and waxy pallor of the disc. What does the ERG show?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Reduced or extinguished response

In retinitis pigmentosa, rods degenerate first, and ERG is subnormal or extinguished even early. Night blindness is the first symptom followed by field constriction.

Option by option

  • A. Isolated cone dysfunction only

    Rod loss predominates early.

  • B. Reduced or extinguished response (correct)

    Correct. ERG abnormalities occur early and are diagnostic.

  • C. Supernormal response

    Supernormal responses are not seen.

  • D. Normal response

    A normal ERG would argue against the diagnosis.

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 B, Reduced or extinguished response. In retinitis pigmentosa, rods degenerate first, and ERG is subnormal or extinguished even early.

Why is "Isolated cone dysfunction only" not the answer?

Rod loss predominates early.

Why is "Supernormal response" not the answer?

Supernormal responses are not seen.

Why is "Normal response" not the answer?

A normal ERG would argue against the diagnosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retina: retinitis pigmentosa in Ophthalmology. Night blindness is the first symptom followed by field constriction.

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 Retina: retinitis pigmentosa?

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.