Uvea: acute retinal necrosis: 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 · Uvea: acute retinal necrosis

Sample item

A healthy 35-year-old has a painful red eye with vitritis, peripheral confluent patches of retinal whitening and occlusive arteriolitis. Which is the correct initial treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Intravenous acyclovir

Acute retinal necrosis is caused by herpes simplex or varicella zoster virus and needs prompt intravenous acyclovir, then oral antivirals. Prophylactic laser may limit later detachment. Steroid alone allows viral spread.

Option by option

  • A. Intravitreal anti-VEGF

    Anti-VEGF is for neovascular disease and has no effect on viral necrosis.

  • B. Oral prednisolone alone

    Steroid alone spreads the virus and is added only after antiviral cover.

  • C. Laser to the peripheral retina only

    Laser alone does not treat the infection.

  • D. Intravenous acyclovir (correct)

    Correct. Antiviral therapy halts the necrosis and protects the fellow eye.

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 D, Intravenous acyclovir. Acute retinal necrosis is caused by herpes simplex or varicella zoster virus and needs prompt intravenous acyclovir, then oral antivirals.

Why is "Intravitreal anti-VEGF" not the answer?

Anti-VEGF is for neovascular disease and has no effect on viral necrosis.

Why is "Oral prednisolone alone" not the answer?

Steroid alone spreads the virus and is added only after antiviral cover.

Why is "Laser to the peripheral retina only" not the answer?

Laser alone does not treat the infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Uvea: acute retinal necrosis in Ophthalmology. Prophylactic laser may limit later detachment. Steroid alone allows viral spread.

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 Uvea: acute retinal necrosis?

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.