Retina: proliferative diabetic retinopathy: 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: proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Sample item

A diabetic patient shows new vessels on the optic disc covering more than one third of the disc area. This is classified as:

AMild non-proliferative retinopathyBHigh-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathyCDiabetic maculopathy onlyDModerate non-proliferative retinopathy

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. High-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy

New vessels on the disc (NVD) beyond one third of disc area, or any NVD or NVE with vitreous haemorrhage, are high-risk PDR characteristics. Prompt panretinal photocoagulation or anti-VEGF is recommended. Without treatment there is a high risk of severe visual loss.

Option by option

A. Mild non-proliferative retinopathy
Mild NPDR has only microaneurysms.
B. High-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (correct)
Correct. NVD of this extent is high-risk PDR.
C. Diabetic maculopathy only
New vessels indicate proliferative disease, not maculopathy.
D. Moderate non-proliferative retinopathy
Moderate NPDR has more haemorrhages and some beading, but no new vessels.

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.

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is B, High-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy. New vessels on the disc (NVD) beyond one third of disc area, or any NVD or NVE with vitreous haemorrhage, are high-risk PDR characteristics.

Why is "Mild non-proliferative retinopathy" not the answer?

Mild NPDR has only microaneurysms.

Why is "Diabetic maculopathy only" not the answer?

New vessels indicate proliferative disease, not maculopathy.

Why is "Moderate non-proliferative retinopathy" not the answer?

Moderate NPDR has more haemorrhages and some beading, but no new vessels.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retina: proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Ophthalmology. Prompt panretinal photocoagulation or anti-VEGF is recommended. Without treatment there is a high risk of severe visual loss.

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: proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

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.