Community ophthalmology: firework eye injury first aid: 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.

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Ophthalmology · Community ophthalmology: firework eye injury first aid

Sample item

A boy is brought to a health post with severe pain and bleeding in the eye after a firework burst near his face. What first-aid advice is most appropriate before transfer?

AInstil steroid drops and review next morningBPatch with a tight bandage and give oral fluidsCDo not rub or press the eye, place a rigid shield over it and refer urgentlyDWash vigorously with a pad and apply a firm pressure bandage

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Do not rub or press the eye, place a rigid shield over it and refer urgently

Fireworks can cause an open globe injury, so pressure on the eye can extrude intraocular contents. The eye should be protected with a rigid shield, no drops or ointments applied, and the patient sent to an eye centre immediately with tetanus cover and nil by mouth if surgery is likely. Public awareness of safe use of fireworks reduces such injuries.

Option by option

A. Instil steroid drops and review next morning
Waiting overnight delays repair and risks infection.
B. Patch with a tight bandage and give oral fluids
A tight patch also presses on the globe and offering fluids delays anaesthesia.
C. Do not rub or press the eye, place a rigid shield over it and refer urgently (correct)
Correct. Protect with a rigid shield, avoid pressure and refer urgently.
D. Wash vigorously with a pad and apply a firm pressure bandage
A pressure bandage can extrude contents of a ruptured globe.

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.

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is C, Do not rub or press the eye, place a rigid shield over it and refer urgently. Fireworks can cause an open globe injury, so pressure on the eye can extrude intraocular contents.

Why is "Instil steroid drops and review next morning" not the answer?

Waiting overnight delays repair and risks infection.

Why is "Patch with a tight bandage and give oral fluids" not the answer?

A tight patch also presses on the globe and offering fluids delays anaesthesia.

Why is "Wash vigorously with a pad and apply a firm pressure bandage" not the answer?

A pressure bandage can extrude contents of a ruptured globe.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community ophthalmology: firework eye injury first aid in Ophthalmology. The eye should be protected with a rigid shield, no drops or ointments applied, and the patient sent to an eye centre immediately with tetanus cover and nil by mouth if surgery is likely. Public awareness of safe use of fireworks reduces such injuries.

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 Community ophthalmology: firework eye injury first aid?

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.