Ophthalmology flashcards for NEET PG
77 cards. Read the question, answer in your head, then check. For spaced repetition, study the deck in the app.
What this deck is for
These 77 cards pick out single facts in Ophthalmology that the exam keeps returning to: Public health ophthalmology, Glaucoma, Ocular oncology, Retina, Nutritional eye disease, Ocular pharmacology and more. Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Cards are a starting set, not full coverage of the subject; the study guide lists the full map.
Where students slip in Ophthalmology: Mixing up the causes of a painful red eye. Read the Ophthalmology study guide.
1 · Public health ophthalmology
Leading cause of blindness in India?
Show the answer
Cataract: largely curable by surgery.
Memory hook: Check the latest national survey.
2 · Glaucoma
Mechanisms of the main glaucoma drops?
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Prostaglandins ↑ uveoscleral outflow; beta-blockers and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors ↓ aqueous production; pilocarpine ↑ trabecular outflow.
Memory hook: Latanoprost once at night.
3 · Ocular oncology
Gene and presentation of retinoblastoma?
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RB1 on 13q14; leukocoria in a young child.
Memory hook: Heritable: risk of osteosarcoma.
4 · Retina
First visible sign of diabetic retinopathy?
Show the answer
Microaneurysms.
Memory hook: Neovascularisation = proliferative.
5 · Nutritional eye disease
Order of vitamin A deficiency signs?
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Night blindness, conjunctival xerosis, Bitot's spots, corneal xerosis, keratomalacia.
Memory hook: Night blindness first.
6 · Ocular pharmacology
How does pilocarpine lower intraocular pressure?
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It causes miosis and ciliary muscle contraction, opening the trabecular meshwork to increase outflow.
Memory hook: Used in angle-closure and open-angle glaucoma.
7 · Retina
What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?
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Flashes of light, new floaters and a curtain-like field loss.
Memory hook: Painless emergency.
8 · Ocular oncology
What are the commonest intraocular tumours in children and adults?
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Retinoblastoma in children; in adults, metastasis is the commonest overall and uveal melanoma the commonest primary.
Memory hook: Leukocoria in a child.
9 · Visual acuity
What does 6/12 vision mean?
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The patient sees at 6 metres what a normal eye sees at 12 metres.
Memory hook: The bigger the second number, the worse.
10 · Neuro-ophthalmology
Which cranial nerve palsy gives a 'down and out' eye with ptosis?
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The oculomotor nerve (III).
Memory hook: Pupil involvement suggests compression.
11 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Which extraocular muscle is supplied by the trochlear nerve?
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The superior oblique (CN IV).
Memory hook: SO4.
12 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Which extraocular muscle is supplied by the abducens nerve?
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The lateral rectus (CN VI).
Memory hook: LR6.
13 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Which structure of the retina is responsible for the highest visual acuity?
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The fovea centralis, which contains only cones.
Memory hook: Rods are absent at the foveola.
14 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Where is the blind spot located, and why?
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At the optic disc, about 15 degrees temporal to fixation, because it has no photoreceptors.
Memory hook: Seen on the temporal side of the field.
15 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
What is the refractive power of the cornea and total power of the eye?
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Cornea about 43 D; whole eye about 60 D.
Memory hook: Cornea gives two-thirds of the power.
16 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Which layer of the cornea is secreted by the endothelium?
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Descemet's membrane.
Memory hook: It is elastic and regenerates.
17 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Where is aqueous humour produced and where does it mainly drain?
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Produced by the ciliary processes; drains mainly through the trabecular meshwork into Schlemm's canal.
Memory hook: Uveoscleral route is the minor pathway.
18 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
What is the path of the aqueous humour from production to exit?
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Posterior chamber, pupil, anterior chamber, trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal, episcleral veins.
Memory hook: Pupil is the bridge between chambers.
19 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Which muscles are supplied by the oculomotor nerve?
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Superior, inferior and medial recti, inferior oblique and levator palpebrae superioris.
Memory hook: LR6 SO4, rest are 3.
20 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
What does the Schirmer test measure?
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Tear secretion; below 10 mm wetting in 5 minutes suggests dry eye.
Memory hook: Strip of filter paper in the lower fornix.
21 · Conjunctiva and cornea
What is the commonest cause of acute infective conjunctivitis in adults?
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Viral, most often adenovirus (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis).
Memory hook: Watery discharge, preauricular node.
22 · Conjunctiva and cornea
What is the characteristic corneal sign of herpes simplex keratitis?
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A dendritic ulcer with terminal bulbs, stained by fluorescein.
Memory hook: Reduced corneal sensation.
23 · Conjunctiva and cornea
Which drug is the treatment of choice for herpes simplex dendritic keratitis?
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Topical acyclovir (or ganciclovir); steroids are avoided in epithelial disease.
Memory hook: Steroids worsen epithelial HSV.
24 · Conjunctiva and cornea
Which organism causes trachoma, and what is the cause of blindness?
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Chlamydia trachomatis (serotypes A to C); blindness is from trichiasis with corneal scarring.
Memory hook: Herbert's pits and Arlt's line.
25 · Conjunctiva and cornea
What does the WHO simplified grading of trachoma use as the stage 'TT'?
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Trachomatous trichiasis: at least one eyelash rubbing the eyeball.
Memory hook: FISTO: TF, TI, TS, TT, CO.
26 · Conjunctiva and cornea
Which test confirms corneal ulcer epithelial defects?
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Fluorescein staining, seen as green under cobalt blue light.
Memory hook: Only stains where epithelium is absent.
27 · Conjunctiva and cornea
Which organism is classically linked to corneal ulcer after trauma by vegetable matter?
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Fungi, especially Aspergillus and Fusarium, with feathery edge and satellite lesions.
Memory hook: Natamycin is the drug of choice.
28 · Conjunctiva and cornea
What is keratoconus and its characteristic sign?
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A progressive conical ectasia of the cornea causing irregular astigmatism; Munson's sign and Fleischer ring.
Memory hook: Corneal cross-linking halts progression.
29 · Conjunctiva and cornea
What is a pterygium and in which direction does it grow?
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A fibrovascular triangular conjunctival growth, extending from the nasal side onto the cornea.
Memory hook: Wing-shaped, due to UV exposure.
30 · Lens and cataract
Which type of cataract is most associated with steroid use?
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Posterior subcapsular cataract.
Memory hook: Also seen in diabetes and radiation.
31 · Lens and cataract
Which cataract is classically linked to diabetes in young patients?
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Snowflake cataract with rapid onset; sorbitol accumulation is the mechanism.
Memory hook: Aldose reductase pathway.
32 · Lens and cataract
What is the typical cataract type in the elderly causing 'second sight'?
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Nuclear sclerosis, which increases refractive index and causes myopic shift.
Memory hook: Reading improves without glasses.
33 · Lens and cataract
What are the stages of senile cataract?
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Immature, mature, hypermature (Morgagnian); the lens is fully opaque in the mature stage.
Memory hook: Intumescent is the swollen stage.
34 · Lens and cataract
Which complication is associated with an intumescent cataract?
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Phacomorphic glaucoma from a shallow anterior chamber.
Memory hook: Treat by cataract extraction.
35 · Lens and cataract
Which complication follows a hypermature cataract with leaking lens protein?
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Phacolytic glaucoma (macrophages block the trabecular meshwork).
Memory hook: Open-angle type.
36 · Lens and cataract
What is the standard modern technique of cataract surgery?
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Phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation.
Memory hook: Small incision, quick recovery.
37 · Lens and cataract
Which is the commonest late complication of cataract surgery?
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Posterior capsule opacification, treated with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.
Memory hook: Also called after-cataract.
38 · Lens and cataract
Which is the most feared early complication after cataract surgery?
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Endophthalmitis, usually presenting within a week with pain, hypopyon and reduced vision.
Memory hook: Intravitreal antibiotics are needed.
39 · Glaucoma
What is the normal range of intraocular pressure?
Show the answer
10 to 21 mmHg.
Memory hook: Measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry.
40 · Glaucoma
Which instrument is the gold standard for measuring intraocular pressure?
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Goldmann applanation tonometer.
Memory hook: Based on the Imbert-Fick principle.
41 · Glaucoma
Which is the commonest type of glaucoma worldwide?
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Primary open-angle glaucoma.
Memory hook: Painless, slow, tunnel vision.
42 · Glaucoma
What is the classic optic disc change in glaucoma?
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Increased cup to disc ratio with thinning of the neuroretinal rim.
Memory hook: Notching and bayoneting.
43 · Glaucoma
Which visual field defect is early in glaucoma?
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Arcuate (Bjerrum) scotoma, then nasal step.
Memory hook: Central vision lost last.
44 · Glaucoma
What is the first-line emergency drug class for acute angle-closure attack, given systemically?
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Intravenous mannitol and oral or IV acetazolamide, with topical pilocarpine.
Memory hook: Definitive treatment is peripheral iridotomy.
45 · Glaucoma
Which drug is avoided in angle-closure glaucoma because it dilates the pupil?
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Atropine and other mydriatics (anticholinergics).
Memory hook: Can precipitate an attack.
46 · Glaucoma
Which glaucoma drug is contraindicated in asthma?
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Timolol and other non-selective beta-blockers.
Memory hook: Also bradycardia.
47 · Glaucoma
Which glaucoma drug can cause iris colour darkening and lash growth?
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Latanoprost, a prostaglandin analogue.
Memory hook: Once daily at night.
48 · Glaucoma
Which triad defines congenital glaucoma?
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Photophobia, lacrimation and blepharospasm, with buphthalmos.
Memory hook: Haab's striae are Descemet tears.
49 · Uvea
Which HLA type is linked to acute anterior uveitis?
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HLA-B27 (ankylosing spondylitis).
Memory hook: Also reactive arthritis.
50 · Uvea
What are the signs of acute anterior uveitis?
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Ciliary flush, keratic precipitates, aqueous cells and flare, small irregular pupil.
Memory hook: Posterior synechiae form.
51 · Uvea
Which drug class is first-line for acute anterior uveitis?
Show the answer
Topical corticosteroids with a cycloplegic such as atropine or homatropine.
Memory hook: Cycloplegic prevents synechiae.
52 · Uvea
Which uveitis is associated with granulomatous mutton-fat keratic precipitates?
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Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, among others.
Memory hook: Busacca nodules on the iris.
53 · Uvea
What is Behcet's disease triad?
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Recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers and uveitis with hypopyon.
Memory hook: Hypopyon with a quiet red eye.
54 · Uvea
What is sympathetic ophthalmitis?
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Bilateral granulomatous uveitis after penetrating injury to one eye, with Dalen-Fuchs nodules.
Memory hook: Enucleation of the injured eye early prevents it.
55 · Uvea
What is the commonest primary intraocular malignancy in adults?
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Uveal melanoma, most often in the choroid.
Memory hook: Spreads to liver.
56 · Retina
Which finding is a cherry-red spot at the macula typical of?
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Central retinal artery occlusion, and also Tay-Sachs and Niemann-Pick disease.
Memory hook: Pale retina with a red fovea.
57 · Retina
What is the classic fundus picture of central retinal vein occlusion?
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Blood and thunder: widespread haemorrhages, dilated tortuous veins and disc oedema.
Memory hook: Risk: hypertension, glaucoma.
58 · Retina
What is the primary treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
Show the answer
Panretinal photocoagulation, with anti-VEGF injections in selected cases.
Memory hook: Anti-VEGF is first for macular oedema.
59 · Retina
Which is the most common cause of vision loss in diabetic retinopathy?
Show the answer
Diabetic macular oedema.
Memory hook: Treated with anti-VEGF.
60 · Retina
Which hypertensive retinopathy sign gives a copper or silver wire appearance?
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Arteriolar sclerosis with widened light reflex.
Memory hook: Keith-Wagener-Barker grading.
61 · Retina
What is the inheritance and first symptom of retinitis pigmentosa?
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Often autosomal recessive (also dominant, X-linked); night blindness with bone-spicule pigmentation.
Memory hook: ERG is extinguished.
62 · Retina
Which is the commonest cause of irreversible visual loss in the elderly in developed countries?
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Age-related macular degeneration.
Memory hook: Wet type is treated with anti-VEGF.
63 · Retina
What are drusen?
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Yellow sub-RPE deposits at the macula, the hallmark of dry age-related macular degeneration.
Memory hook: Amsler grid detects distortion.
64 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
Which pupil sign is the hallmark of an Argyll Robertson pupil?
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Light-near dissociation: reacts to accommodation but not to light.
Memory hook: Accommodates but does not react.
65 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
What is a relative afferent pupillary defect and how is it tested?
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A paradoxical dilation when light swings from the normal to the affected eye; swinging flashlight test.
Memory hook: Marcus Gunn pupil.
66 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
Which lesion causes Horner syndrome and its triad?
Show the answer
Interruption of the sympathetic pathway: ptosis, miosis and anhidrosis.
Memory hook: Enophthalmos is apparent.
67 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
Which visual field defect follows a chiasmal lesion such as a pituitary adenoma?
Show the answer
Bitemporal hemianopia, upper quadrants first.
Memory hook: Crossing nasal fibres are compressed.
68 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
Which lesion causes a homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing?
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Occipital cortex (posterior cerebral artery) lesion.
Memory hook: Dual blood supply spares the macula.
69 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
What is papilloedema?
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Optic disc swelling due to raised intracranial pressure, usually bilateral with preserved early vision.
Memory hook: Enlarged blind spot.
70 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
Which condition causes optic neuritis and which drug treats it acutely?
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Often demyelination (multiple sclerosis); IV methylprednisolone speeds recovery.
Memory hook: Pain on eye movement.
71 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils
Which nerve palsy causes a dilated pupil with eye 'down and out'?
Show the answer
Oculomotor palsy from compressive lesions such as posterior communicating aneurysm.
Memory hook: Pupil is spared in diabetic palsy.
72 · Community ophthalmology
Which strategy summarises the WHO plan for trachoma control?
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SAFE: Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement.
Memory hook: Azithromycin mass treatment.
73 · Community ophthalmology
Which screening is recommended for diabetic patients?
Show the answer
Annual dilated fundus examination, starting at diagnosis in type 2 and about 5 years after in type 1.
Memory hook: Early detection prevents blindness.
74 · Community ophthalmology
Which vitamin A deficiency sign is pathognomonic and appears as foamy triangular patches?
Show the answer
Bitot's spots on the conjunctiva.
Memory hook: Respond to vitamin A.
75 · Community ophthalmology
Which eye condition is the usual target of school eye screening?
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Refractive errors, especially myopia, found by simple visual acuity testing.
Memory hook: Spectacles correct it.
76 · Anatomy and physiology of the eye
Which muscle opens the eyelid and which nerve supplies the smooth part?
Show the answer
Levator palpebrae superioris (oculomotor); Muller's muscle is sympathetic.
Memory hook: Horner gives mild ptosis.
77 · Conjunctiva and cornea
Which type of hypersensitivity underlies seasonal allergic conjunctivitis?
Show the answer
Type I (IgE mediated) hypersensitivity, treated with mast cell stabilisers and antihistamines.
Memory hook: Itching is the key symptom.
Common questions
How many Ophthalmology flashcards are there?
77 cards across 14 topics. The deck grows as we add material.
Which topics are in the Ophthalmology deck?
Public health ophthalmology, Glaucoma, Ocular oncology, Retina, Nutritional eye disease, Ocular pharmacology, Visual acuity, Neuro-ophthalmology, Anatomy and physiology of the eye, Conjunctiva and cornea, Lens and cataract, Uvea, and more.
Is the Ophthalmology deck free?
Ophthalmology opens with a paid term. The free plan includes the Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry decks.
How do spaced-repetition cards work?
You rate each card Again, Hard, Good or Easy. Cards you find hard return soon and cards you know return later, so your time goes where you forget.
What is the memory hook on a card?
77 of these cards carry a one-line hook: a short cue that helps the answer stick. It is optional and appears after you reveal the answer.
How many Ophthalmology cards should I do a day?
Ten to twenty minutes a day is plenty. A few due cards every day beat a long session once a week.
Can I flip through the cards on this page?
You can read each question and reveal its answer here. For scheduling, ratings and progress, study the deck in the app.
Are the Ophthalmology cards reviewed by faculty?
Not yet. They are original and still awaiting independent review, so confirm anything important in a standard textbook.