AOA Ocular Disease and Pathology 3

Question 1

What is the primary mechanism of damage in glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Retinal ganglion cell apoptosis

Answer

Glaucoma fundamentally involves progressive apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and their axons forming the optic nerve, leading to visual field loss.

Question 2

Which ocular finding is pathognomonic for ocular hypertension secondary to pseudoexfoliation syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Flaky white material on the lens capsule

Answer

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is characterized by dandruff-like fibrillar material deposited on the anterior lens capsule and other anterior segment structures.

Question 3

A branch retinal artery occlusion most commonly appears on fundoscopy as:

Accepted Answer

A wedge-shaped area of retinal whitening

Answer

Branch retinal artery occlusion causes acute ischemic edema appearing as a wedge of opaque, whitened (infarcted) retina in the distribution of the occluded vessel.

Question 4

Retinitis pigmentosa classically causes which pattern of visual field loss?

Accepted Answer

Ring scotoma with peripheral constriction

Answer

RP causes progressive degeneration of peripheral rods first, producing ring scotomas that expand to cause tunnel vision over time.

Question 5

Which choroidal tumor appears as an orange-red elevated lesion on fundoscopy and is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults?

Accepted Answer

Uveal melanoma

Answer

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults and typically appears as a pigmented choroidal mass.

AOA - American Optometric Association Practice Test

AOA - American Optometric Association Practice Test

AOA Ocular Disease and Pathology 3