Cornea: shield ulcer in vernal disease: 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 · Cornea: shield ulcer in vernal disease

Sample item

A 10-year-old boy with itching and ropy discharge presents with a horizontally oval, sterile, greyish ulcer in the upper cornea with cobblestone papillae under the upper lid. This ulcer is called:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Shield ulcer

A shield ulcer is a sterile oval epithelial defect in the upper cornea in vernal keratoconjunctivitis, caused by mechanical and toxic effects of giant papillae. It needs steroids, mast cell stabilisers and sometimes debridement of the plaque. Mooren ulcer is a peripheral ulcer with an undermined edge.

Option by option

  • A. Shield ulcer (correct)

    Correct. A shield ulcer is a complication of vernal disease.

  • B. Dendritic ulcer

    Dendritic ulcer is a branching herpetic lesion.

  • C. Marginal ulcer

    A marginal ulcer is seen in staphylococcal blepharoconjunctivitis.

  • D. Mooren ulcer

    Mooren ulcer is a painful peripheral ulcerative keratitis in adults.

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 A, Shield ulcer. A shield ulcer is a sterile oval epithelial defect in the upper cornea in vernal keratoconjunctivitis, caused by mechanical and toxic effects of giant papillae.

Why is "Dendritic ulcer" not the answer?

Dendritic ulcer is a branching herpetic lesion.

Why is "Marginal ulcer" not the answer?

A marginal ulcer is seen in staphylococcal blepharoconjunctivitis.

Why is "Mooren ulcer" not the answer?

Mooren ulcer is a painful peripheral ulcerative keratitis in adults.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cornea: shield ulcer in vernal disease in Ophthalmology. It needs steroids, mast cell stabilisers and sometimes debridement of the plaque. Mooren ulcer is a peripheral ulcer with an undermined edge.

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 Cornea: shield ulcer in vernal disease?

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.