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 13 / 20

Retinal Vascular Disease & Sudden Painless Loss

Treat acute retinal ischaemia as a time-critical vascular presentation and distinguish venous 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. Sudden painless monocular blindness should trigger what? A. Routine spectacle testing onlyB. Reassurance because the eye is whiteC. Review after a monthD. Emergency assessment for retinal and vascular causes

Question 02. Why record the last-known-well time in sudden visual loss? A. It determines spectacle frame sizeB. It replaces the eye examinationC. It excludes all venous diseaseD. It may influence emergency treatment decisions

Question 03. Suspected acute retinal artery occlusion requires which pathway? A. Immediate ophthalmic and stroke-service assessmentB. Annual glaucoma screening aloneC. Oral antihistamine trialD. Routine lid hygiene

Question 04. Should unproven bedside measures delay transfer for retinal arterial occlusion? A. Yes, for several hours in every caseB. Only if vision is very poorC. NoD. Only if the pupil is abnormal

Question 05. A transient monocular blackout that has resolved may represent what? A. Guaranteed benign migraineB. Proof of normal carotid circulationC. A harmless event in every older adultD. Retinal ischaemia needing urgent vascular assessment

Question 06. What commonly causes visual reduction in retinal vein occlusion? A. Lid-margin crusting aloneB. Macular oedemaC. Hyperopia in every caseD. A corneal foreign body in every case

Question 07. Why monitor an ischaemic retinal vein occlusion? A. It never affects pressureB. Retinal vessels always normalise immediatelyC. Follow-up only measures spectaclesD. Neovascular complications may develop

Question 08. Which history increases concern for giant cell arteritis? A. Stable childhood myopiaB. Seasonal itch aloneC. New headache and jaw claudication with visual symptomsD. Longstanding unchanged floaters

Question 09. Should strongly suspected sight-threatening giant cell arteritis wait for biopsy before treatment? A. Yes, alwaysB. Only if both eyes are affectedC. Only if headache is mildD. No, urgent clinician-directed treatment precedes confirmation

Question 10. What belongs in follow-up after retinal vascular disease? A. Spectacles alone for every patientB. No further care once redness is absentC. Eye monitoring and systemic risk managementD. Only cosmetic advice

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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.

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