Keratitis: 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 · Keratitis

Sample item

A contact lens wearer has severe eye pain, photophobia, reduced vision and a red eye, with a white corneal opacity on slit-lamp examination. How should this be interpreted?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Sight-threatening corneal infection needing urgent scraping and treatment

Pain, photophobia, reduced vision and a corneal infiltrate indicate keratitis, which can perforate or scar. Conjunctivitis typically spares vision and is not severely painful.

Option by option

  • A. Allergic conjunctivitis needing antihistamine drops

    Allergic conjunctivitis is itchy, not painful, with normal vision.

  • B. Self-limiting viral conjunctivitis needing reassurance

    Viral conjunctivitis rarely reduces vision or causes a corneal infiltrate.

  • C. Episcleritis needing lubricants

    Episcleritis causes mild discomfort and sectoral redness only.

  • D. Sight-threatening corneal infection needing urgent scraping and treatment (correct)

    Correct. Reduced vision with pain and a corneal opacity is an emergency.

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 D, Sight-threatening corneal infection needing urgent scraping and treatment. Pain, photophobia, reduced vision and a corneal infiltrate indicate keratitis, which can perforate or scar.

Why is "Allergic conjunctivitis needing antihistamine drops" not the answer?

Allergic conjunctivitis is itchy, not painful, with normal vision.

Why is "Self-limiting viral conjunctivitis needing reassurance" not the answer?

Viral conjunctivitis rarely reduces vision or causes a corneal infiltrate.

Why is "Episcleritis needing lubricants" not the answer?

Episcleritis causes mild discomfort and sectoral redness only.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Keratitis in Ophthalmology. Conjunctivitis typically spares vision and is not severely painful.

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 Keratitis?

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.