Visual pathway: 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

Sample item

A woman with amenorrhoea and galactorrhoea complains of bumping into objects on both sides. Field testing shows bitemporal hemianopia. Where is the lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Optic chiasm

A pituitary adenoma compresses the optic chiasm from below, damaging crossing fibres from the nasal retinae that carry the temporal visual fields. This produces bitemporal hemianopia, often first in the upper temporal quadrants.

Option by option

  • A. Optic chiasm (correct)

    Crossing nasal retinal fibres lie in the chiasm and are compressed by a pituitary tumour.

  • B. Optic nerve

    An optic nerve lesion causes monocular visual loss.

  • C. Optic radiation in the temporal lobe

    A temporal lobe lesion in the optic radiation causes a contralateral superior homonymous quadrantanopia.

  • D. Optic tract

    An optic tract lesion causes contralateral homonymous hemianopia.

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 A, Optic chiasm. A pituitary adenoma compresses the optic chiasm from below, damaging crossing fibres from the nasal retinae that carry the temporal visual fields.

Why is "Optic nerve" not the answer?

An optic nerve lesion causes monocular visual loss.

Why is "Optic radiation in the temporal lobe" not the answer?

A temporal lobe lesion in the optic radiation causes a contralateral superior homonymous quadrantanopia.

Why is "Optic tract" not the answer?

An optic tract lesion causes contralateral homonymous hemianopia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Visual pathway in Ophthalmology. This produces bitemporal hemianopia, often first in the upper temporal quadrants.

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 Visual pathway?

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.