Uvea: sympathetic ophthalmia presentation: 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 · Uvea: sympathetic ophthalmia presentation

Sample item

Six weeks after a perforating injury in one eye, the other uninjured eye becomes photophobic and red with mutton-fat keratic precipitates. What is the most appropriate treatment for the uninjured eye?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. High-dose systemic corticosteroids

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a bilateral granulomatous uveitis after penetrating injury, treated with high-dose systemic steroids and immunosuppressants. The sympathising eye is never removed because it may retain useful vision. Early enucleation of a blind injured eye reduces risk but is not done once disease begins.

Option by option

  • A. Topical antibiotics

    Topical antibiotics do not treat an immune disorder.

  • B. High-dose systemic corticosteroids (correct)

    Correct. Systemic steroids control the immune uveitis and save the sympathising eye.

  • C. Observation

    Observation risks severe vision loss.

  • D. Enucleation of the uninjured eye

    Removing the sympathising eye would sacrifice the better-seeing eye.

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.

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Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is B, High-dose systemic corticosteroids. Sympathetic ophthalmia is a bilateral granulomatous uveitis after penetrating injury, treated with high-dose systemic steroids and immunosuppressants.

Why is "Topical antibiotics" not the answer?

Topical antibiotics do not treat an immune disorder.

Why is "Observation" not the answer?

Observation risks severe vision loss.

Why is "Enucleation of the uninjured eye" not the answer?

Removing the sympathising eye would sacrifice the better-seeing eye.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Uvea: sympathetic ophthalmia presentation in Ophthalmology. The sympathising eye is never removed because it may retain useful vision. Early enucleation of a blind injured eye reduces risk but is not done once disease begins.

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 Uvea: sympathetic ophthalmia presentation?

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.