Conjunctiva and cornea: atopic keratoconjunctivitis and the lens: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Ophthalmology · Conjunctiva and cornea: atopic keratoconjunctivitis and the lens

Sample item

A 28-year-old man with long-standing atopic dermatitis has year-round bilateral itching and burning, thick eyelid skin, fine papillae on a fibrotic lower tarsal conjunctiva and punctate corneal erosions. Which lens change is a recognised complication of this condition?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Anterior subcapsular shield cataract

Atopic keratoconjunctivitis is associated with keratoconus and with cataract, typically an anterior or posterior subcapsular opacity that may be shield-like, partly related to the disease and to prolonged topical steroid use. The other named cataracts have specific systemic or metabolic causes.

Option by option

  • A. Sunflower-pattern cataract

    A sunflower cataract is a copper deposit in the anterior lens capsule, seen in Wilson disease or chalcosis.

  • B. Anterior subcapsular shield cataract (correct)

    Correct. Atopic disease is linked with subcapsular, shield-like cataract.

  • C. Christmas-tree cataract

    A Christmas-tree cataract with multicoloured crystals is seen in myotonic dystrophy.

  • D. Oil-droplet cataract

    An oil-droplet cataract is seen in galactosaemia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is B, Anterior subcapsular shield cataract. Atopic keratoconjunctivitis is associated with keratoconus and with cataract, typically an anterior or posterior subcapsular opacity that may be shield-like, partly related to the disease and to prolonged topical steroid use.

Why is "Sunflower-pattern cataract" not the answer?

A sunflower cataract is a copper deposit in the anterior lens capsule, seen in Wilson disease or chalcosis.

Why is "Christmas-tree cataract" not the answer?

A Christmas-tree cataract with multicoloured crystals is seen in myotonic dystrophy.

Why is "Oil-droplet cataract" not the answer?

An oil-droplet cataract is seen in galactosaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Conjunctiva and cornea: atopic keratoconjunctivitis and the lens in Ophthalmology. The other named cataracts have specific systemic or metabolic causes.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Conjunctiva and cornea: atopic keratoconjunctivitis and the lens?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.