Refractive surgery: PRK: 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 · Refractive surgery: PRK

Sample item

Compared with LASIK, which feature applies to photorefractive keratectomy?

AA hinged corneal flap is liftedBAn IOL is placed in the sulcusCA lenticule is extracted through a small incisionDNo flap is created, so it suits thin corneas but healing is slower and more painful

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. No flap is created, so it suits thin corneas but healing is slower and more painful

PRK ablates the surface after removal of the epithelium, so there is no flap-related complication. Haze and postoperative pain are more common, and visual recovery is slower.

Option by option

A. A hinged corneal flap is lifted
A hinged flap defines LASIK.
B. An IOL is placed in the sulcus
Sulcus IOLs are phakic or pseudophakic implants.
C. A lenticule is extracted through a small incision
Lenticule extraction defines SMILE.
D. No flap is created, so it suits thin corneas but healing is slower and more painful (correct)
Correct. PRK is a surface ablation with no flap.

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 D, No flap is created, so it suits thin corneas but healing is slower and more painful. PRK ablates the surface after removal of the epithelium, so there is no flap-related complication.

Why is "A hinged corneal flap is lifted" not the answer?

A hinged flap defines LASIK.

Why is "An IOL is placed in the sulcus" not the answer?

Sulcus IOLs are phakic or pseudophakic implants.

Why is "A lenticule is extracted through a small incision" not the answer?

Lenticule extraction defines SMILE.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Refractive surgery: PRK in Ophthalmology. Haze and postoperative pain are more common, and visual recovery is slower.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Refractive surgery: PRK?

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.