Ear and audiology: eye care in facial palsy: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Ear and audiology: eye care in facial palsy

Sample item

A 30-year-old has acute right lower motor neuron facial palsy and cannot close the right eye. Which measure best protects the eye in the first days?

ALubricating drops by day and ointment with eyelid taping at nightBReassurance alone since the palsy is painlessCStarting a topical antibiotic for the eyeDApplying an eye pad dry during the day

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Lubricating drops by day and ointment with eyelid taping at night

Failure of eyelid closure and loss of the blink dry the cornea and risk exposure keratitis. Frequent lubricants and night-time ointment with taping or a patch protect it. Persistent lagophthalmos needs ophthalmology review.

Option by option

A. Lubricating drops by day and ointment with eyelid taping at night (correct)
Correct. Lubricants by day and ointment with closure at night prevent exposure keratitis.
B. Reassurance alone since the palsy is painless
Reassurance alone leaves the cornea unprotected and risks ulceration.
C. Starting a topical antibiotic for the eye
No infection is present, so antibiotics do not address the exposure problem.
D. Applying an eye pad dry during the day
A dry pad rubs the dry corneal surface and can cause abrasion.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Lubricating drops by day and ointment with eyelid taping at night. Failure of eyelid closure and loss of the blink dry the cornea and risk exposure keratitis.

Why is "Reassurance alone since the palsy is painless" not the answer?

Reassurance alone leaves the cornea unprotected and risks ulceration.

Why is "Starting a topical antibiotic for the eye" not the answer?

No infection is present, so antibiotics do not address the exposure problem.

Why is "Applying an eye pad dry during the day" not the answer?

A dry pad rubs the dry corneal surface and can cause abrasion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: eye care in facial palsy in ENT. Frequent lubricants and night-time ointment with taping or a patch protect it. Persistent lagophthalmos needs ophthalmology review.

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 Ear and audiology: eye care in facial palsy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.