Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

What condition is characterized by fragile blood vessels on the retina that leak or break?

1. Retinal detachment

2. Diabetic Retinopathy

3. Pinguecula

4. Floaters

The correct answer is: Diabetic Retinopathy

The condition characterized by fragile blood vessels on the retina that leak or break is indeed diabetic retinopathy. This disease is a complication of diabetes and results from progressive damage to the blood vessels in the retina due to prolonged high blood sugar levels. As these blood vessels become more fragile, they can leak fluid or blood into the surrounding retinal tissue, leading to vision problems and potentially severe outcomes if left untreated. Diabetic retinopathy often progresses through various stages, starting from mild non-proliferative changes to more severe forms, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy, where new abnormal blood vessels grow, further increasing the risk of leakage and retinal damage. In contrast, other options like retinal detachment involve the separation of the retina from its underlying tissue but do not specifically involve the leakage from fragile blood vessels. Pinguecula is a growth on the eye’s conjunctiva and is unrelated to the retinal vasculature, while floaters refer to small specks or clouds that float in a person's field of vision and are typically caused by age-related changes in the vitreous humor rather than vascular issues.