YEAR 04 • MAJOR CLINICAL DISCIPLINES

Ophthalmology

20 learning units • 100 chapter sections • 200 explained questions. Assess visual symptoms, recognise sight-threatening disease and plan safe treatment, referral and follow-up.

Original RAHBAR study material for the Year 4 learning pathway. Clinical cases support supervised undergraduate learning. Treatment choices, doses and procedures must follow current local protocols and the responsible clinical team. References & further reading ↓

MODULE 10 / 20

Diabetic Retinopathy & Macular Oedema

Connect retinal screening, systemic care and specialist treatment of diabetic eye disease.

Choose an answer and check it immediately. Change your choice to try again. This is a self-study exercise; results are not saved.

Question 01. Why screen a person with diabetes who reports normal vision? A. Retinopathy can be asymptomaticB. Normal vision proves no retinal diseaseC. Screening only measures spectaclesD. Diabetes affects only the lens

Question 02. Which finding is characteristic of early diabetic microvascular disease? A. A corneal dendriteB. Retinal microaneurysmsC. A fixed mid-dilated pupilD. A lid-margin chalazion

Question 03. What distinguishes proliferative retinopathy? A. Any refractive changeB. Mild conjunctival itchC. Abnormal new retinal or disc vesselsD. Isolated cataract

Question 04. Why can proliferative disease cause sudden floaters and blur? A. It always causes corneal abrasionB. It instantly changes spectacle power onlyC. Fragile vessels can bleed into the vitreousD. It affects tear drainage alone

Question 05. Which mechanism can cause tractional retinal detachment? A. Contraction of fibrovascular tissueB. Simple presbyopiaC. A normal tear filmD. A clear lens

Question 06. Which test helps assess diabetic macular oedema? A. Optical coherence tomographyB. AudiometryC. Corneal topography aloneD. Skin patch testing

Question 07. Can macular oedema occur without proliferative retinopathy? A. No, neovascularisation is always requiredB. YesC. Only after glaucoma surgeryD. Only with a retinal tear

Question 08. An ungradable retinal screening image should lead to what? A. A result of no retinopathyB. Permanent discharge from screeningC. Further assessment through the screening pathwayD. Ignoring the eye until blindness

Question 09. What systemic care supports retinal risk reduction? A. Coordinated glucose and blood pressure managementB. Stopping all diabetes medicinesC. Treating only eye discomfortD. Avoiding every future medical review

Question 10. What should a patient expect after beginning intravitreal treatment? A. A guaranteed permanent cure after one doseB. No need to report painC. Automatic cessation of screeningD. A monitored course with scheduled reassessment

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References & Further Reading

Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.

NICE NG242 — Diabetic retinopathy

Reference review: 28 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.