Conjunctiva and cornea: contact lens abrasion: 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 · Conjunctiva and cornea: contact lens abrasion

Sample item

A 24-year-old soft contact lens wearer has a painful red eye after removing a lens. Fluorescein shows a corneal epithelial defect with no infiltrate. What is appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Topical fluoroquinolone, cycloplegic and no patching

A contact lens wearer with an abrasion should receive antibiotic cover that includes Pseudomonas, a cycloplegic for comfort, and should not wear lenses until healed. Patching is avoided because it creates a warm, moist environment for bacteria. Steroids delay healing.

Option by option

  • A. Topical fluoroquinolone, cycloplegic and no patching (correct)

    Correct. Antipseudomonal cover and cycloplegia without a patch is safest in a lens wearer.

  • B. Topical corticosteroid drops

    Steroids delay epithelial healing and risk infection in an open epithelial defect.

  • C. Firm pressure patching for 24 hours

    Patching can promote Pseudomonas infection in lens wearers and is no longer advised.

  • D. Resume lens wear with lubricant

    Resuming lens wear on an unhealed epithelium raises the risk of infectious keratitis.

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 A, Topical fluoroquinolone, cycloplegic and no patching. A contact lens wearer with an abrasion should receive antibiotic cover that includes Pseudomonas, a cycloplegic for comfort, and should not wear lenses until healed.

Why is "Topical corticosteroid drops" not the answer?

Steroids delay epithelial healing and risk infection in an open epithelial defect.

Why is "Firm pressure patching for 24 hours" not the answer?

Patching can promote Pseudomonas infection in lens wearers and is no longer advised.

Why is "Resume lens wear with lubricant" not the answer?

Resuming lens wear on an unhealed epithelium raises the risk of infectious keratitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Conjunctiva and cornea: contact lens abrasion in Ophthalmology. Patching is avoided because it creates a warm, moist environment for bacteria. Steroids delay healing.

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: contact lens abrasion?

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.