Mastering Ophthalmology for NEET-PG and INI-CET in Just 3 Days

Day 1 — External Eye, Ocular Surface, Refraction & Anterior Emergencies

Lids & adnexa

  • Blepharitis (anterior vs posterior); hordeolum vs chalazion; meibomian gland dysfunction.
  • Ptosis basics: aponeurotic vs neurogenic vs myogenic; simple tests; red flags.
  • Entropion/ectropion; trichiasis; madarosis pointers.

Lacrimal (dacryology)

  • Acute vs chronic dacryocystitis; regurgitation test; dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) concept.

  • Congenital NLDO: Crigler massage; probing window (concept); acute dacryocystitis first steps.

Conjunctiva

  • Bacterial vs viral vs allergic (itching, papillae, stringy discharge); phlyctenular; trachoma basics.
  • Pterygium vs pinguecula; vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) hallmarks.

Cornea & ocular surface

  • Keratitis patterns: bacterial (ulcer with hypopyon), fungal (feathery margins, satellite lesions), HSV dendritic ulcer, acanthamoeba (contact lens, severe pain).
  • Fluorescein staining; Seidel test; corneal abrasion first steps.
  • Dry eye: Schirmer, TBUT concepts; exposure keratopathy pointers.
  • Ectasias: keratoconus signs (Munson, scissoring, Fleischer ring); pellucid concept.
  • Dystrophies: Fuchs endothelial gist; EBMD concept.

Sclera & episclera

  • Episcleritis (self‑limited) vs scleritis (severe pain, bluish hue, systemic association) quick cues.

Refraction & optics

  • Myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia; pinhole improvement concept; retinoscopy idea.
  • Cycloplegic refraction in children; accommodation reflex components.
  • Contact lens basics: indications, hygiene, giant papillary conjunctivitis clue.
  • Refractive surgery overview: PRK vs LASIK vs SMILE; contraindication: keratoconus/ectasia risk.

Anterior segment trauma & chemical injury

  • Chemical injury: immediate copious irrigation; alkali worse than acid; check pH; shield.
  • Hyphema basics; globe rupture red flags (teardrop pupil, uveal prolapse) — avoid pressure; shield and refer.

Day‑1 MCQs focus

  • Dendritic ulcer vs bacterial/fungal patterns; VKC features; keratoconus signs; chemical injury first step; scleritis vs episcleritis.

Day 2 — Lens & Cataract, Glaucoma, Neuro‑Ophthalmology, Pediatric Eye & Strabismus

Lens & cataract

  • Types: nuclear sclerosis (myopic shift), cortical spokes, posterior subcapsular (glare); congenital cataracts (TORCH, metabolic) concept.
  • Symptoms: progressive painless loss, glare; PSC disabling in bright light.
  • Surgery: phaco vs ECCE; posterior chamber IOL; IOL power selection idea.
  • Post‑op issues: posterior capsular opacification (YAG capsulotomy); cystoid macular edema; endophthalmitis red flags.

Glaucoma

  • POAG: risk factors; optic disc cupping (C:D ↑, notching), RNFL defects; visual fields (nasal step, arcuate scotoma).
  • AACG: severe pain, halos, mid‑dilated fixed pupil, corneal edema; precipitating factors.
  • Testing: tonometry basics; pachymetry influence; gonioscopy (Shaffer grades concept); OCT RNFL idea.
  • Treatment outline:
    • POAG: prostaglandin analogs, β‑blockers, alpha‑agonists, topical CAIs; laser trabeculoplasty; trabeculectomy concept.
    • AACG attack: acetazolamide → topical agents → mannitol if needed → pilocarpine only after IOP lowered → definitive laser iridotomy.
  • Pediatric/secondary glaucoma quick awareness.

Neuro‑ophthalmology

  • Pupils & RAPD; light‑near dissociation concept (Argyll Robertson, Adie’s).
  • Optic neuritis: painful vision loss, color desaturation, RAPD.
  • Papilledema vs papillitis; causes and key differences.
  • Visual pathway localizations: bitemporal hemianopia (chiasm), homonymous hemianopia (post‑chiasm), macular sparing concept.
  • Ocular motor palsies: III (down‑and‑out, ptosis, ±pupil), IV (vertical diplopia), VI (LR palsy).
  • Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) concept.

Pediatric ophthalmology & strabismus

  • Leukocoria differentials: retinoblastoma, congenital cataract, Coats, PFV (concept).
  • ROP basics: risk factors, screening idea.
  • Strabismus: comitant vs paralytic; cover–uncover, alternate cover; Hirschberg test; accommodative esotropia concept.
  • Amblyopia: causes (strabismic, anisometropic, deprivation); treatment (optical correction + occlusion/penalization); critical period idea.

Day‑2 MCQs focus

  • Cataract types and complications; POAG vs AACG first‑line steps; field defects localizations; optic neuritis features; strabismus tests; leukocoria causes.

Day 3 — Retina & Vitreous, Uvea (Posterior), Orbit/Oculoplastics, Tumors, Imaging, Pharmacology & Toxicities

Retina & vitreous

  • Diabetic retinopathy (DR): NPDR (microaneurysms, dot‑blot hemorrhages, hard exudates), PDR (neovascularization); macular edema.
  • Hypertensive retinopathy: AV crossing changes; cotton‑wool spots; grade gist.
  • Retinal detachment: rhegmatogenous (flashes, floaters, curtain), tractional, exudative; risk factors (myopia, surgery); first‑line approach outline.
  • ARMD: dry (drusen) vs wet (CNVM, metamorphopsia); anti‑VEGF idea; central serous chorioretinopathy basics.
  • Vascular occlusions: CRAO (sudden painless loss, cherry‑red spot); CRVO/BRVO (blood‑and‑thunder fundus) basics.
  • Vitreous hemorrhage causes; floaters/photopsias clues.
  • Pediatric retina: ROP snapshot; retinoblastoma (leukocoria, strabismus) basics.

Uvea — posterior uveitis

  • Symptoms: floaters, blurred vision; causes (toxoplasma, TB/sarcoid concept); look for snowballs/snowbanking idea.
  • Complications: CME, RD; steroid/IOP issues concept level.

Orbit & oculoplastics

  • Thyroid eye disease: lid retraction, exposure keratopathy, restrictive myopathy; compressive optic neuropathy clue.
  • Preseptal vs orbital cellulitis: pain with eye movement, proptosis, fever; imaging and IV antibiotics idea.
  • Blow‑out fracture: diplopia (upgaze restriction), infraorbital numbness.

Dacryology recap

  • DCR vs external approaches; recurrent dacryocystitis pointers.

Tumors (adult and pediatric)

  • Retinoblastoma: leukocoria; genetics concept; pineal trilateral awareness.
  • Choroidal melanoma: dome/mushroom lesion idea; risk signs (orange pigment, subretinal fluid); DDx: nevus.
  • Eyelid tumors basics (BCC > SCC concept level).

Imaging & lasers

  • Imaging: fundus photography, OCT (macula/optic nerve), B‑scan ultrasound (media opacity, tumors), fluorescein angiography basics.
  • Lasers: PRP for PDR, focal/grid for macular edema, Nd:YAG capsulotomy for PCO, PI for angle closure.

Pharmacology & ocular toxicities

  • Topical: antibiotics, steroids (raise IOP; cataract risk), NSAIDs; mydriatics/cycloplegics; miotics; anaesthetics (epithelial toxicity with overuse).
  • Systemic drug toxicities: steroids (PSC, glaucoma), chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (bull’s‑eye maculopathy), ethambutol (optic neuropathy), amiodarone (vortex keratopathy), isotretinoin (dry eye), rifabutin (uveitis) — concept level.

Emergencies recap

  • Painful red eye: AACG, uveitis, keratitis — first‑step actions.
  • Painless acute vision loss: CRAO, RD, vitreous haemorrhage — urgent pathways.

Day‑3 MCQs focus

  • DR staging; RD triad; ARMD vs CSCR; CRAO vs CRVO; thyroid eye disease; orbital vs preseptal cellulitis; choroidal melanoma clues; drug toxicities.

Rapid Revision (Evening of Day 3)

  • Keratitis patterns & first steps; uveitis signs & cycloplegic logic.
  • Cataract types → key symptoms; PCO → YAG; endophthalmitis red flags.
  • Glaucoma: field defects; AACG sequence; POAG med classes.
  • Retina: DR must‑knows; RD “flashes‑floaters‑curtain”; CRAO cherry‑red spot; ARMD vs CSCR.
  • Strabismus tests; amblyopia steps; leukocoria DDx.
  • Emergencies snapshot: chemical injury irrigation first; globe rupture shield.

Practice Pattern (all days)

  • Timed MCQ blocks → immediate review → write one rule learned from each error.
  • Vignette flow: diagnosis → first step → next test → basic management.
  • Mini‑cards to carry: keratitis map, AACG sequence, glaucoma fields, DR staging, RD triad, CRAO vs CRVO, leukocoria DDx, drug toxicity pearls.
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