Ocular trauma: 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 · Ocular trauma

Sample item

A worker is splashed in the eye with wet lime plaster and has severe pain. What is the first step in management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Immediate copious irrigation with water or saline

Alkali burns penetrate quickly and cause liquefactive necrosis that continues until the chemical is removed, so irrigation must start at once, before examination. Irrigation should continue until the tear film pH is neutral. Alkali injuries are generally more damaging than acid, which causes coagulation that limits penetration.

Option by option

  • A. Measure visual acuity before any treatment

    Delaying irrigation to test vision allows continued tissue penetration.

  • B. Pad the eye and refer to a specialist

    Padding without irrigation leaves the chemical in contact with the eye.

  • C. Immediate copious irrigation with water or saline (correct)

    Correct. Rapid dilution and removal of the chemical limits further damage.

  • D. Neutralise with a weak acid solution

    Neutralising agents risk an exothermic reaction and waste time compared with plain irrigation.

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 C, Immediate copious irrigation with water or saline. Alkali burns penetrate quickly and cause liquefactive necrosis that continues until the chemical is removed, so irrigation must start at once, before examination.

Why is "Measure visual acuity before any treatment" not the answer?

Delaying irrigation to test vision allows continued tissue penetration.

Why is "Pad the eye and refer to a specialist" not the answer?

Padding without irrigation leaves the chemical in contact with the eye.

Why is "Neutralise with a weak acid solution" not the answer?

Neutralising agents risk an exothermic reaction and waste time compared with plain irrigation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ocular trauma in Ophthalmology. Irrigation should continue until the tear film pH is neutral. Alkali injuries are generally more damaging than acid, which causes coagulation that limits penetration.

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 Ocular trauma?

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.