Early signs of feline central retinal degeneration include which finding?

• A. Corneal edema
• B. Anterior chamber flare
• C. Hyperreflective lesion in area centralis
• D. Increased intraocular pressure

Answer: (C)

In feline central retinal degeneration, the disease begins in the central retina where the area centralis sits, affecting the photoreceptors there first. The earliest sign you’ll notice on fundus examination or imaging is a hyperreflective lesion in the area centralis, reflecting initial photoreceptor outer segment disruption and retinal changes concentrated in that central, cone-rich zone. The other options point to problems in the anterior segment or with the intraocular pressure, not the retina: corneal edema involves the cornea, anterior chamber flare indicates uveitis, and increased intraocular pressure points to glaucoma. So the hyperreflective lesion in the area centralis is the best early sign of feline CRD.