Visual pathway: optic tract: 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 · Visual pathway: optic tract

Sample item

A lesion in the right optic tract causes which visual deficit?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Incongruous left homonymous hemianopia with a contralateral RAPD

The right optic tract carries fibres from the right half of both retinae, so the left field is lost. Defects are incongruous and a relative afferent pupillary defect appears in the eye with the temporal field loss, which is the contralateral eye.

Option by option

  • A. Left monocular blindness

    Monocular blindness is a prechiasmal lesion.

  • B. Bitemporal hemianopia

    Bitemporal loss is chiasmal.

  • C. Incongruous left homonymous hemianopia with a contralateral RAPD (correct)

    Correct. Tract lesions give incongruous homonymous defects and an RAPD.

  • D. Congruous right homonymous hemianopia

    Right-sided defects would need a left tract lesion.

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 C, Incongruous left homonymous hemianopia with a contralateral RAPD. The right optic tract carries fibres from the right half of both retinae, so the left field is lost.

Why is "Left monocular blindness" not the answer?

Monocular blindness is a prechiasmal lesion.

Why is "Bitemporal hemianopia" not the answer?

Bitemporal loss is chiasmal.

Why is "Congruous right homonymous hemianopia" not the answer?

Right-sided defects would need a left tract lesion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Visual pathway: optic tract in Ophthalmology. Defects are incongruous and a relative afferent pupillary defect appears in the eye with the temporal field loss, which is the contralateral eye.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Visual pathway: optic tract?

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.