,Short Answer
Questions for the
MRCOphth Part 1
Nathaniel Knox Cartwright
Senior House O⁄cer
Bristol Eye Hospital
Bristol, UK
and
Petros Carvounis
Chief Resident
Department of Ophthalmology
The George Washington University
Washington DC, USA
, Contents
Preface vii
About this book viii
Q1 Define (a) standard deviation, (b) standard error of the 1
mean and (c) 95% confidence interval
Q2 Define sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive 2
value of screening
Q3 Write short notes on the factors determining drug penetration 3
into the eye
Q4 Write short notes on drug metabolism 5
Q5 Describe the pupillary responses and their modification 7
by drugs
Q6 List, with examples, pharmacological ways of lowering 9
intraocular pressure
Q7 Write short notes on the pharmacology of cycloplegic drugs 11
Q8 Write short notes on carbonic anhydrase inhibitors 12
Q9 Write short notes on the side effects of β-blockers 14
Q10 Write short notes on the mode of action of drugs that 15
lower blood glucose
Q11 Write short notes on the mode of action of drugs that lower 17
blood pressure
Q12 Write short notes on the side effects of aminoglycosides 18
Q13 What are the side effects of corticosteroids? 19
Q14 What are the current therapeutic strategies in the human 21
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
Q15 Write short notes comparing rods and cones 23
Q16 Describe the mechanisms regulating aqueous outflow 25
Q17 Describe the structures and relationships of different retinal 26
ganglion cell types, including their connection to higher
visual pathways
Q18 Write short notes on autoregulation of blood flow 28
Q19 Outline the differences between the sympathetic and 29
parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system
Q20 Write short notes on steroid receptors. Illustrate your answer 30
with reference to the glucocorticoid receptor
, iv Contents
Q21 Describe the physiological and pharmacological mechanisms 31
involved in water transfer through tissue
Q22 Write short notes on endocytosis. Illustrate your answer with 33
an example from the eye
Q23 Discuss mechanisms by which bacteria destroy tissue 34
Q24 List the ophthalmic manifestations of the acquired 35
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Q25 List the clinical manifestations of giant cell arteritis 37
Q26 Discuss the pathological effects of ionising radiation 38
Q27 Draw a diagram of the normal retinal capillary. How is the 39
structure altered in diabetes?
Q28 Write short notes on the pathogenesis of atheromatous 40
plaques
Q29 Describe the causes and effects of ulcers 42
Q30 What are free radicals? Write short notes explaining why 44
retinal photoreceptors are particularly vulnerable to
free radicals
Q31 Describe ways in which cells die 45
Q32 Write short notes on viral replication 46
Q33 Contrast Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria 47
Q34 Describe the chief mechanisms by which bacteria acquire 48
resistance to antibiotics
Q35 Discuss the microbiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 49
Q36 What precautions would be taken to prevent spread of 50
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection
from patient to patient on an ophthalmic ward?
Q37 Write short notes on the principles of sterilisation 52
Q38 Compare and contrast bacteria, viruses and chlamydia 53
Q39 Write short notes on genetic linkage analysis. Give an 54
example
Q40 Discuss the genetic mechanisms involved in neoplasia 55
Q41 Write short notes on prenatal testing 57
Q42 Write short notes on the polymerase chain reaction 58
Q43 What is a chromosomal translocation? Illustrate your answer 59
with an example associated with ocular disease
Q44 Describe the causes and effects of occlusive disease occurring 60
in muscular arteries and arterioles
Q45 List the major roles of complement 62
Q46 Describe the structure and function of immunoglobulins 63
Q47 Write short notes on histocompatibility antigens and list 65
three examples of disease associations
Q48 Write short notes on the mechanism of allograft rejection 67
Questions for the
MRCOphth Part 1
Nathaniel Knox Cartwright
Senior House O⁄cer
Bristol Eye Hospital
Bristol, UK
and
Petros Carvounis
Chief Resident
Department of Ophthalmology
The George Washington University
Washington DC, USA
, Contents
Preface vii
About this book viii
Q1 Define (a) standard deviation, (b) standard error of the 1
mean and (c) 95% confidence interval
Q2 Define sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive 2
value of screening
Q3 Write short notes on the factors determining drug penetration 3
into the eye
Q4 Write short notes on drug metabolism 5
Q5 Describe the pupillary responses and their modification 7
by drugs
Q6 List, with examples, pharmacological ways of lowering 9
intraocular pressure
Q7 Write short notes on the pharmacology of cycloplegic drugs 11
Q8 Write short notes on carbonic anhydrase inhibitors 12
Q9 Write short notes on the side effects of β-blockers 14
Q10 Write short notes on the mode of action of drugs that 15
lower blood glucose
Q11 Write short notes on the mode of action of drugs that lower 17
blood pressure
Q12 Write short notes on the side effects of aminoglycosides 18
Q13 What are the side effects of corticosteroids? 19
Q14 What are the current therapeutic strategies in the human 21
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
Q15 Write short notes comparing rods and cones 23
Q16 Describe the mechanisms regulating aqueous outflow 25
Q17 Describe the structures and relationships of different retinal 26
ganglion cell types, including their connection to higher
visual pathways
Q18 Write short notes on autoregulation of blood flow 28
Q19 Outline the differences between the sympathetic and 29
parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system
Q20 Write short notes on steroid receptors. Illustrate your answer 30
with reference to the glucocorticoid receptor
, iv Contents
Q21 Describe the physiological and pharmacological mechanisms 31
involved in water transfer through tissue
Q22 Write short notes on endocytosis. Illustrate your answer with 33
an example from the eye
Q23 Discuss mechanisms by which bacteria destroy tissue 34
Q24 List the ophthalmic manifestations of the acquired 35
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Q25 List the clinical manifestations of giant cell arteritis 37
Q26 Discuss the pathological effects of ionising radiation 38
Q27 Draw a diagram of the normal retinal capillary. How is the 39
structure altered in diabetes?
Q28 Write short notes on the pathogenesis of atheromatous 40
plaques
Q29 Describe the causes and effects of ulcers 42
Q30 What are free radicals? Write short notes explaining why 44
retinal photoreceptors are particularly vulnerable to
free radicals
Q31 Describe ways in which cells die 45
Q32 Write short notes on viral replication 46
Q33 Contrast Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria 47
Q34 Describe the chief mechanisms by which bacteria acquire 48
resistance to antibiotics
Q35 Discuss the microbiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 49
Q36 What precautions would be taken to prevent spread of 50
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection
from patient to patient on an ophthalmic ward?
Q37 Write short notes on the principles of sterilisation 52
Q38 Compare and contrast bacteria, viruses and chlamydia 53
Q39 Write short notes on genetic linkage analysis. Give an 54
example
Q40 Discuss the genetic mechanisms involved in neoplasia 55
Q41 Write short notes on prenatal testing 57
Q42 Write short notes on the polymerase chain reaction 58
Q43 What is a chromosomal translocation? Illustrate your answer 59
with an example associated with ocular disease
Q44 Describe the causes and effects of occlusive disease occurring 60
in muscular arteries and arterioles
Q45 List the major roles of complement 62
Q46 Describe the structure and function of immunoglobulins 63
Q47 Write short notes on histocompatibility antigens and list 65
three examples of disease associations
Q48 Write short notes on the mechanism of allograft rejection 67
