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 adult has pain, vitritis, occlusive retinal arteritis and sharply demarcated peripheral confluent necrotising retinitis. Which organisms are the usual causes?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus

Acute retinal necrosis is caused by VZV (commonest) and HSV, occurring in immunocompetent persons, with the triad of retinitis, arteritis and vitritis. Treatment is IV acyclovir followed by oral valacyclovir with intravitreal ganciclovir. Retinal detachment is a frequent late complication.

Option by option

  • A. Cytomegalovirus only

    CMV retinitis occurs in immunocompromised patients.

  • B. Varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus (correct)

    Correct. VZV and HSV cause ARN.

  • C. Toxocara canis

    Toxocara causes granuloma and not necrotising retinitis.

  • D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    TB produces choroidal lesions.

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, Varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus. Acute retinal necrosis is caused by VZV (commonest) and HSV, occurring in immunocompetent persons, with the triad of retinitis, arteritis and vitritis.

Why is "Cytomegalovirus only" not the answer?

CMV retinitis occurs in immunocompromised patients.

Why is "Toxocara canis" not the answer?

Toxocara causes granuloma and not necrotising retinitis.

Why is "Mycobacterium tuberculosis" not the answer?

TB produces choroidal lesions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Uvea: acute retinal necrosis in Ophthalmology. Treatment is IV acyclovir followed by oral valacyclovir with intravitreal ganciclovir. Retinal detachment is a frequent late complication.

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.