Diseases of the Cornea Practice Questions

Q: Corneal vascularization is caused by which of the following?

All of the above. **Explanation:** Corneal vascularization (neovascularization) is a pathological condition where new blood vessels grow into the normally avascular cornea. This occurs when the balance between angiogenic factors (like VEGF) and anti-angiogenic factors is disrupted, usually due to inflammation, hypoxia, or limbal stem cell deficiency. **Analysis of Options:** * **Graft Rejection (Option A):** This is an inflammatory immune response. Neovascularization is both a risk factor for and a sign of corneal graft rejection. Vessels provide a pathway for immune cells to reach the donor tissue, leading to an "immune attack." * **Chemical Burn (Option B):** Alkali burns are particularly notorious. They cause extensive limbal stem cell damage and severe inflammation. The loss of the limbal barrier allows conjunctival vessels to encroach upon the cornea (conjunctivalization). * **Contact Lens Use (Option C):** Chronic use, especially with low-permeability lenses or overwear, leads to **corneal hypoxia**. The lack of oxygen triggers the release of vasoproliferative factors, causing superficial or deep stromal vessels to grow from the limbus. Since all three conditions are well-established causes of corneal neovascularization, **Option D** is the correct answer. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Pannus:** This refers to superficial vascularization accompanied by infiltration of granulation tissue (commonly seen in Trachoma and Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis). * **Micropannus:** Defined as vessel growth <2mm beyond the limbus (common in Trachoma). * **Ghost Vessels:** These are non-perfused, empty vascular channels that remain after the inciting inflammatory stimulus has subsided (classic in interstitial keratitis/Syphilis). * **Management:** Topical steroids or NSAIDs are used to reduce inflammation; anti-VEGF agents (e.g., Bevacizumab) are emerging treatments.

Q: Which of the following will be the most important adjuvant therapy in a case of fungal corneal ulcer?

Atropine sulphate eye ointment. ### Explanation In the management of a fungal corneal ulcer, **Atropine sulphate (1%) eye ointment** is the most critical adjuvant therapy alongside antifungal agents. **Why Atropine is the Correct Choice:** Fungal keratitis is almost always associated with **secondary anterior uveitis** and **iridocyclitis** due to the penetration of fungal toxins into the anterior chamber. Atropine acts as a potent **cycloplegic and mydriatic**, serving three vital functions: 1. **Relieves Ciliary Spasm:** It reduces the intense pain associated with the spasm of the ciliary body. 2. **Prevents Posterior Synechiae:** By keeping the pupil dilated, it prevents the iris from adhering to the lens. 3. **Increases Blood Supply:** By reducing congestion in the ciliary body, it improves ocular blood flow, which aids in the healing process. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **B. Dexamethasone eye drops:** Steroids are strictly **contraindicated** in active fungal ulcers. They promote fungal growth, inhibit collagen synthesis (leading to perforation), and suppress the local immune response. * **C. Pilocarpine eye drops:** This is a miotic. It would worsen the pain by causing ciliary muscle contraction and increase the risk of forming small, fixed pupils (annular synechiae). * **D. Lignocaine eye drops:** While a local anesthetic, it is toxic to the corneal epithelium and inhibits wound healing. It should never be used for long-term pain management in ulcers. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Drug of Choice (Medical):** Topical **Natamycin (5%)** is the first-line treatment for filamentous fungi (e.g., *Aspergillus*, *Fusarium*). * **The "Immune Ring":** Wessely’s ring (an immune ring of Ag-Ab complex) is often seen in fungal ulcers. * **Surgical Intervention:** If medical therapy fails or perforation is imminent, a **therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK)** is indicated.

Q: In microcornea, the diameter of the cornea is less than:

10 mm. **Explanation:** **Microcornea** is a congenital anomaly where the cornea is abnormally small but otherwise anatomically normal in structure and thickness. 1. **Why Option B is correct:** The standard clinical definition of microcornea is a horizontal corneal diameter of **less than 10 mm** in an adult, or **less than 9 mm** in a newborn. Since the question refers to the general diagnostic threshold, 10 mm is the established benchmark. The condition occurs due to an arrest in the growth of the cornea after the 5th month of gestation, while the rest of the eye may grow normally. 2. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Option A (9 mm):** This is the threshold for a **newborn**. In an adult, a 9 mm cornea is already well within the range of microcornea. * **Option C (11 mm):** The average adult corneal diameter is approximately 11.5 to 12 mm. A diameter of 11 mm is considered a "small-normal" cornea but does not meet the pathological criteria for microcornea. * **Option D (8 mm):** While an 8 mm cornea is indeed microcorneal, it is not the *threshold* definition. 10 mm is the upper limit for the diagnosis. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Refractive Status:** Microcornea usually results in **hypermetropia** (flat cornea) and predisposes the patient to **closed-angle glaucoma** due to a crowded anterior segment. * **Associations:** It can occur in an otherwise normal eye (isolated) or as part of **Microphthalmos** (small globe). * **Systemic Associations:** Often linked with **Fetal Alcohol Syndrome**, Turner syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. * **Contrast with Megalocornea:** Megalocornea is defined as a horizontal diameter **>13 mm**.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a sign of graft rejection?

Foster spot. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Foster spot** because it is a clinical feature of **Pathological Myopia**, not corneal graft rejection. A Foster-Fuchs spot is a pigmented, circular lesion in the macula caused by subretinal neovascularization and subsequent scarring/hemorrhage. **Understanding Graft Rejection Signs:** Corneal graft rejection is an immunological response (Type IV hypersensitivity) against the donor tissue. It can involve different layers of the cornea: * **Krachmer spots (Option A):** These are subepithelial infiltrates seen in **stromal rejection**. They represent a localized inflammatory response and are similar in appearance to the infiltrates seen in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. * **Khodadoust line (Option B):** This is the hallmark sign of **endothelial rejection**. It is a linear precipitate of lymphocytes (keratic precipitates) on the endothelium that moves across the graft, destroying endothelial cells and leading to graft failure. * **Oedema (Option C):** Corneal edema (thickening and loss of clarity) is a primary sign of **endothelial rejection**. When the pump function of the endothelium is compromised by the immune attack, the stroma becomes hydrated. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Wessely Ring:** An immune ring in the corneal stroma (antigen-antibody complex) often seen in viral keratitis or graft rejection. * **Timeframe:** Graft rejection typically occurs at least 2 weeks after surgery (sensitization period). * **Management:** The mainstay of treatment is intensive **topical corticosteroids** (e.g., Prednisolone acetate 1%). * **Epithelial Rejection:** Characterized by an elevated epithelial line (rejection line) that stains with fluorescein.

Q: Corneal endothelial cell counting is performed using which instrument?

Specular microscope. ### Explanation **Correct Answer: C. Specular microscope** The **corneal endothelium** is a single layer of non-regenerating hexagonal cells responsible for maintaining corneal dehydration (deturgescence) via an active Na+/K+ ATPase pump. **Specular microscopy** is a non-invasive photographic technique that allows for the visualization and analysis of these cells. It provides critical data including: * **Endothelial Cell Density (ECD):** Normal adult count is 2000–3000 cells/mm². * **Polymegathism:** Variation in cell size (Coefficient of Variation). * **Pleomorphism:** Variation in cell shape (Percentage of hexagonality). **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Tachymetry:** This is a distractor term. In general engineering, it refers to distance measurement, but it has no standard application in clinical ophthalmology. * **B. Pachymetry:** This instrument measures **corneal thickness**. While thickness is an indirect indicator of endothelial function (as a failing pump leads to edema/thickening), it does not count individual cells. * **D. Perimetry:** This is used for mapping the **visual field** (e.g., Humphrey Field Analyzer), primarily used in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma and neurological visual defects. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Critical Threshold:** If the endothelial cell count falls below **500 cells/mm²**, the cornea loses its ability to remain clear, leading to corneal edema and bullous keratopathy. * **Guttata:** Specular microscopy shows these as "dark spots" or "holes" in the endothelial pattern, characteristic of **Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy**. * **Surgical Clearance:** Specular microscopy is mandatory before certain procedures like ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) implantation to ensure the endothelium is healthy enough to tolerate the intraocular surgery.

Q: What does SMILE stand for in ophthalmology?

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. **Explanation:** **SMILE** stands for **Small Incision Lenticule Extraction**. It is a minimally invasive, "flapless" refractive surgery used primarily to treat myopia and astigmatism. **Why the correct answer is right:** Unlike traditional LASIK, which requires creating a large corneal flap, SMILE uses a **Femtosecond laser** to carve a thin, disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue (the **lenticule**) within the stroma. This lenticule is then manually removed through a tiny peripheral incision (usually 2-4 mm). Removing the lenticule changes the shape of the cornea, thereby correcting the refractive error. Because it avoids a large flap, it preserves corneal biomechanical stability and reduces the risk of post-operative dry eye. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Option A:** Incorrect because SMILE is a distinct procedure from LASIK. While both use lasers, SMILE is "flapless," whereas LASIK involves creating a flap. * **Options B & D:** These are distractors using anatomical terms like "Superficial Musculo-Incisional" which are irrelevant to corneal surgery. The cornea is avascular and non-muscular. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Laser Used:** SMILE exclusively uses the **Femtosecond laser** (not the Excimer laser used in LASIK/PRK). * **Key Advantage:** Better preservation of corneal nerves (less dry eye) and superior biomechanical strength compared to LASIK. * **Indication:** Currently FDA-approved for myopia and myopic astigmatism. * **Complication:** The most specific complication is "Retained Lenticule Fragments," which can cause irregular astigmatism.

Q: Sarcoidosis is associated with which of the following conditions?

Band keratopathy. **Explanation:** **Band Keratopathy** is the correct answer because Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that frequently causes **hypercalcemia** and hypercalciuria (due to the production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by epithelioid histiocytes in the granulomas). Chronic hypercalcemia leads to the deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the subepithelial layers, specifically the basement membrane and anterior Bowman’s layer of the cornea, resulting in Band Keratopathy. It typically presents as a horizontal "band" in the interpalpebral fissure with characteristic "holes" where nerves penetrate the Bowman’s layer. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Systemic amyloidosis:** While Sarcoidosis and Amyloidosis are both multisystem diseases that can mimic each other (granulomas vs. protein fibrils), they are distinct pathological entities. Amyloidosis is more commonly associated with lattice corneal dystrophy. * **Angioid streaks:** These are dehiscences in a calcified Bruch’s membrane. They are classically associated with the mnemonic **PEPSI**: **P**seudoxanthoma elasticum, **E**hlers-Danlos syndrome, **P**aget’s disease of bone, **S**ickle cell anemia (and other hemoglobinopathies), and **I**diopathic. * **Cataracta nigra:** This refers to an advanced stage of nuclear sclerosis where the lens becomes dark brown or black. It is a result of age-related senile changes, not systemic granulomatous inflammation. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Ocular Sarcoidosis:** The most common manifestation is **bilateral granulomatous anterior uveitis** (characterized by "Mutton-fat" KPs and Busacca/Koeppe nodules). * **Lofgren’s Syndrome:** A specific presentation of Sarcoidosis involving erythema nodosum, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, and arthralgia. * **Treatment of Band Keratopathy:** The treatment of choice is **chelation with EDTA** (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) after scraping the epithelium.

Q: Filamentary keratitis may occur:

All of the above. **Explanation:** Filamentary keratitis is a chronic condition characterized by the formation of small, mucoid filaments attached to the corneal epithelium. These filaments consist of a core of mucus wrapped in degenerated epithelial cells. The underlying pathophysiology involves an **altered mucus-to-tear ratio** and focal areas of epithelial instability. **Why "All of the Above" is Correct:** 1. **Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS):** This is the most common cause. In dry eye states, the lack of aqueous tears leads to increased mucus viscosity. The friction between the lid and the dry corneal surface causes epithelial "tags" to which mucus adheres, forming filaments. 2. **Trachoma:** Chronic cicatricial changes in trachoma lead to secondary dry eye (due to destruction of goblet cells and lacrimal ducts) and mechanical irritation from entropion or trichiasis, both of which predispose the cornea to filament formation. 3. **Following Cataract Surgery:** Post-operative filamentary keratitis can occur due to prolonged patching, use of topical NSAIDs, or surgical trauma to the corneal nerves, which decreases corneal sensitivity and disrupts the tear film stability. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Clinical Feature:** Patients complain of a "foreign body sensation" that worsens with blinking (as the lid pulls on the filaments). * **Staining:** Filaments stain brilliantly with **Rose Bengal** (which stains mucus and devitalized cells). * **Associated Conditions:** Also seen in Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis (SLK), Sjögren’s syndrome, and prolonged eye patching (Ptosis surgery). * **Treatment:** Management includes mechanical removal of filaments, use of **mucolytic agents (Acetylcysteine 10%)**, and aggressive lubrication.

Q: What is the critical angle of the cornea-air interface?

46 degrees. **Explanation:** The concept of the **critical angle** is fundamental in understanding why we cannot visualize the anterior chamber angle (iridocorneal angle) through direct inspection. 1. **Why 46 degrees is correct:** The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which light undergoes **Total Internal Reflection (TIR)**. When light travels from a denser medium (cornea/aqueous, refractive index $\approx$ 1.37) to a rarer medium (air, refractive index = 1.0), any light ray striking the interface at an angle greater than **46 degrees** is reflected back into the eye. Because the light rays originating from the iridocorneal angle strike the cornea-air interface at an angle steeper than 46°, they cannot escape the eye, making the angle invisible to the naked eye. This necessitates the use of a **Goniolens** (e.g., Goldmann or Zeiss), which replaces the air interface with a material of higher refractive index to eliminate TIR. 2. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **36 degrees:** This is too low; it would make visualization even more difficult and does not align with the refractive indices of the ocular media. * **56 degrees:** This is often confused with **Brewster’s angle** (the angle at which light is perfectly polarized), but it is not the critical angle for the cornea. * **66 degrees:** This value is significantly higher than the calculated physical limit for the human eye. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gonioscopy:** Uses the principle of overcoming total internal reflection to visualize the drainage angle. * **Direct Gonioscopy:** Uses a Koeppe lens (steep curvature allows light to pass perpendicularly). * **Indirect Gonioscopy:** Uses mirrors (e.g., Goldmann 3-mirror) to reflect light. * **Refractive Index of Cornea:** 1.376; **Aqueous/Vitreous:** 1.336.

Question 1

Corneal vascularization is caused by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

Graft rejection

Answer

Chemical burn

Answer

Contact lens use

Question 2

Which of the following will be the most important adjuvant therapy in a case of fungal corneal ulcer?

Accepted Answer

Atropine sulphate eye ointment

Answer

Dexamethasone eye drops

Answer

Pilocarpine eye drops

Answer

Lignocaine eye drops

Question 3

In microcornea, the diameter of the cornea is less than:

Accepted Answer

10 mm

Answer

9 mm

Answer

11 mm

Answer

8 mm

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a sign of graft rejection?

Accepted Answer

Foster spot

Answer

Krachmer spots

Answer

Khodadoust line

Answer

Oedema

Question 5

Corneal endothelial cell counting is performed using which instrument?

Accepted Answer

Specular microscope

Answer

Tachymetry

Answer

Pachymetry

Answer

Perimetry

Question 6

What does SMILE stand for in ophthalmology?

Accepted Answer

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

Answer

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction LASIK

Answer

Superficial Musculo-Incisional Lenticule Extraction

Answer

Superficial Musculo-Incisional Laser Extraction

Question 7

Sarcoidosis is associated with which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Band keratopathy

Answer

Systemic amyloidosis

Answer

Angioid streaks

Answer

Cataracta nigra

Question 8

Filamentary keratitis may occur:

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

In trachoma

Answer

In kerato conjunctivitis sicca

Answer

Following cataract surgery

Question 9

Which of the following is a common fungus causing corneal ulcer?

Accepted Answer

Sporothrix

Answer

Aspergillus

Answer

Mucor

Answer

Fusarium

Question 10

What is the critical angle of the cornea-air interface?

Accepted Answer

46 degrees

Answer

36 degrees

Answer

56 degrees

Answer

66 degrees

Diseases of the Cornea — MCQs

Diseases of the Cornea — MCQs

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