Uvea: pars planitis: 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: pars planitis

Sample item

A 24-year-old woman has floaters and blurred vision in both eyes. The anterior chamber is quiet, there are cells in the vitreous, and a white exudate lies over the inferior pars plana like snow on a bank. Which systemic disease is associated?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Multiple sclerosis

Pars planitis is an idiopathic intermediate uveitis with snowballs and snowbanking, and it is associated with multiple sclerosis in a minority. Cystoid macular oedema is the main cause of visual loss. Ankylosing spondylitis causes acute anterior uveitis instead.

Option by option

  • A. Ankylosing spondylitis

    Ankylosing spondylitis causes acute anterior, not intermediate, uveitis.

  • B. Behcet disease

    Behcet disease causes occlusive retinal vasculitis and hypopyon uveitis.

  • C. Tuberculous meningitis

    Tuberculosis may cause uveitis but does not characteristically give snowbanking.

  • D. Multiple sclerosis (correct)

    Correct. Intermediate uveitis is linked with multiple sclerosis, so neurological history matters.

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, Multiple sclerosis. Pars planitis is an idiopathic intermediate uveitis with snowballs and snowbanking, and it is associated with multiple sclerosis in a minority.

Why is "Ankylosing spondylitis" not the answer?

Ankylosing spondylitis causes acute anterior, not intermediate, uveitis.

Why is "Behcet disease" not the answer?

Behcet disease causes occlusive retinal vasculitis and hypopyon uveitis.

Why is "Tuberculous meningitis" not the answer?

Tuberculosis may cause uveitis but does not characteristically give snowbanking.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Uvea: pars planitis in Ophthalmology. Cystoid macular oedema is the main cause of visual loss. Ankylosing spondylitis causes acute anterior uveitis instead.

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 Uvea: pars planitis?

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.