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Retina and vitreous questions and MCQs for residents

Retina and vitreous, BCSC Section 12, covers retinal anatomy and imaging; age-related macular degeneration and other causes of choroidal neovascularization; diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular occlusions; retinopathy of prematurity; hereditary retinal and choroidal dystrophies; retinal toxicity; posterior segment trauma; retinal detachment and the vitreoretinal interface; and the principles of laser, intravitreal and vitreoretinal surgical treatment.

Retina questions on boards test pattern recognition across imaging modalities: fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, OCT, OCT angiography, fundus autofluorescence and electrophysiology. Expect vignettes that ask you to separate look-alikes, such as central serous chorioretinopathy versus neovascular AMD, a full-thickness macular hole versus a lamellar hole or pseudohole, and rhegmatogenous versus exudative detachment, and to apply the conclusions of landmark trials, including ETDRS, AREDS and AREDS2, the vein occlusion studies and DRCR Retina Network protocols, to management decisions.

Commit to an answer before opening each explanation, and when a stem describes imaging findings, name the pattern before choosing a diagnosis. Use the decision flowcharts to anchor treatment thresholds, then let spaced repetition and weak-topic drills recycle the trial conclusions, inheritance patterns and ERG findings that are easiest to forget.

Free retina & vitreous practice questions

Retina & vitreous questions are in the OphthoMentor app: create a free account to practise them with explanations, flowcharts and spaced-repetition review.

High-yield retina & vitreous topics for boards

  • OCT anatomy: retinal layers, ellipsoid zone, subretinal versus sub-RPE fluid
  • Fluorescein angiography patterns: window defect, leakage, pooling, staining, blockage
  • AMD: AREDS/AREDS2 supplementation, neovascular subtypes, anti-VEGF therapy
  • Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: ICG angiography polyps, orange subretinal nodules
  • Central serous chorioretinopathy: corticosteroid association, smokestack and inkblot leakage
  • Diabetic retinopathy: ETDRS severity scale, DRS high-risk characteristics, PRP indications
  • Diabetic macular edema: center involvement, anti-VEGF, DRCR Retina Network protocols
  • Retinal vein occlusion: CVOS and BVOS, ischemia, neovascular glaucoma, macular edema
  • Central retinal artery occlusion: cherry-red spot, giant cell arteritis, embolic workup
  • Retinopathy of prematurity: ICROP zones and stages, plus disease, treatment criteria
  • Retinal tears: posterior vitreous detachment, lattice degeneration, prophylaxis indications
  • Retinal detachment repair: pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckle, vitrectomy selection
  • Macular hole: Gass staging, IVTS classification, vitrectomy with gas tamponade
  • Inherited retinal disease: retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt ABCA4, Best BEST1, X-linked retinoschisis
  • Electrophysiology: full-field ERG, EOG Arden ratio in Best disease, negative ERG
  • Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy: screening, parafoveal and pericentral patterns
  • Sickle cell retinopathy: sea fan neovascularization, Goldberg staging, hemoglobin SC disease
  • Coats disease, retinal arterial macroaneurysm and other exudative vasculopathies
  • Pathologic myopia: lacquer cracks, Fuchs spot, myopic CNV, myopic traction maculopathy
  • Posterior segment trauma: commotio retinae, choroidal rupture, intraocular foreign body

How retina & vitreous is examined

Retina and vitreous corresponds to BCSC Section 12, and on the OKAP and ABO written examinations many of its items are built around images. A stem may pair a fundus photograph, angiogram or OCT scan with a brief history and ask for the diagnosis, the most useful next investigation or the evidence-based treatment, so fluency with imaging signs and trial-derived management matters more than memorizing lists.

The EBO Diploma and FRCOphth papers cover the same core of AMD, diabetic eye disease, vascular occlusions, retinal detachment and inherited retinal disease, with attention to screening principles, systemic associations and urgency of referral. Hereditary dystrophies and electrophysiology reward understanding of inheritance patterns and ERG physiology rather than rote recall.

In orals and clinical stations, candidates are commonly shown an image and asked to describe it systematically, give a differential diagnosis and outline management, including counseling and follow-up. Rehearsing a structured description of fundus, angiographic and OCT findings transfers directly across all of these formats.