Retina: 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

Sample item

A baby born at 28 weeks with a low birth weight receives prolonged oxygen therapy. Which retinal process underlies retinopathy of prematurity?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Abnormal vasoproliferation at the border between vascularised and avascular peripheral retina

The retinal vessels grow outward from the disc and reach the periphery only near term. In premature infants this process is interrupted, and abnormal neovascularisation develops at the edge of vascularised retina, which can cause tractional retinal detachment.

Option by option

  • A. Hypoplasia of the optic nerve fibres

    Optic nerve hypoplasia is a developmental anomaly that is unrelated to oxygen and prematurity.

  • B. Abnormal vasoproliferation at the border between vascularised and avascular peripheral retina (correct)

    Arrested peripheral vessel growth with abnormal neovascular proliferation defines the disease.

  • C. A tumour of immature retinal neuroblasts

    A tumour of neuroblasts describes retinoblastoma, not retinopathy of prematurity.

  • D. Primary degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium

    RPE degeneration is not the mechanism and is not related to prematurity.

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 B, Abnormal vasoproliferation at the border between vascularised and avascular peripheral retina. The retinal vessels grow outward from the disc and reach the periphery only near term.

Why is "Hypoplasia of the optic nerve fibres" not the answer?

Optic nerve hypoplasia is a developmental anomaly that is unrelated to oxygen and prematurity.

Why is "A tumour of immature retinal neuroblasts" not the answer?

A tumour of neuroblasts describes retinoblastoma, not retinopathy of prematurity.

Why is "Primary degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium" not the answer?

RPE degeneration is not the mechanism and is not related to prematurity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retina in Ophthalmology. In premature infants this process is interrupted, and abnormal neovascularisation develops at the edge of vascularised retina, which can cause tractional retinal detachment.

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?

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.