Concepts of Conjunctivitis explained with high-yield MCQs based on Khurana and Govt Ophthalmic Officer exam-oriented PDFs. Most important signs, follicles, papillae, membranes, discharge types, and viral vs bacterial differentiation for RRB Optometrist, Govt Ophthalmic Officer, Ophthalmic Technician, NEET PG, NEXT, AIIMS, and INICET preparation.
Q1. Most important hallmark of conjunctivitis is:
A. Photophobia
B. Diplopia
C. Conjunctival hyperemia
D. Field defects
View Answer
C. Conjunctival hyperemia ✅ Exp: Redness due to dilated conjunctival vessels.
Q2. Follicles indicate:
A. Bacterial infection only
B. Viral or chlamydial infection
C. Allergic conjunctivitis
D. Chemical reaction
View Answer
B. Viral or chlamydial infection ✅ Exp: Lymphoid hyperplasia characteristic of viral/chlamydial.
Q3. Papillae indicate:
A. Viral infection
B. Chlamydial infection
C. Bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis
D. Toxic keratopathy
View Answer
C. Bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: Papilla = vascular core; most seen in allergy & bacterial.
Q4. Membrane formation is primarily seen in:
A. SAC
B. AKC
C. Corynebacterium diphtheriae conjunctivitis
D. VKC
View Answer
C. Corynebacterium diphtheriae conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: True membrane is firmly adherent and bleeds on removal.
Q5. Pseudomembrane is seen in:
A. Diphtheria
B. Adenoviral conjunctivitis
C. Chemical injury
D. GPC
View Answer
B. Adenoviral conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: Easily peelable; superficial coagulated exudate.
Q6. Cobblestone papillae are characteristic of:
A. Viral conjunctivitis
B. Bacterial conjunctivitis
C. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC)
D. Dry eye
View Answer
C. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) ✅ Exp: Giant papillae on upper tarsus.
Q7. Which discharge is typical in viral conjunctivitis?
A. Purulent
B. Mucopurulent
C. Watery
D. Foul smelling
View Answer
C. Watery ✅ Exp: Viral infections → serous, watery discharge.
Q8. Thick, purulent discharge suggests:
A. Viral
B. Allergic
C. Bacterial infection
D. Chemical injury
View Answer
C. Bacterial infection ✅ Exp: Seen in staph, strep, pneumococcal conjunctivitis.
Q9. Stringy, ropy discharge is most typical of:
A. Bacterial
B. Viral
C. Allergic conjunctivitis (especially VKC)
D. Chemical burn
View Answer
C. Allergic conjunctivitis (especially VKC) ✅ Exp: Allergic mucous discharge.
Q10. Preauricular lymphadenopathy is a classic sign of:
A. Bacterial conjunctivitis
B. Allergic conjunctivitis
C. Viral conjunctivitis (adenovirus)
D. Dry eye
View Answer
C. Viral conjunctivitis (adenovirus) ✅ Exp: Seen in EKC and PCF.
Govt Ophthalmic Officer exam-oriented PDFs
Q11. Conjunctival hyperemia that is worse at the fornix suggests:
A. Scleritis
B. Keratitis
C. Conjunctivitis
D. Episcleritis
View Answer
C. Conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: Injection starts at fornices (most vascular).
Q12. Conjunctival injection that fades on phenylephrine suggests:
A. Conjunctivitis
B. Scleritis
C. Keratitis
D. Uveitis
View Answer
A. Conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: Conjunctival vessels blanch with vasoconstrictors.
Q13. Photophobia is least likely in:
A. Keratitis
B. Uveitis
C. Simple conjunctivitis
D. Corneal ulcer
View Answer
C. Simple conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: Typical conjunctivitis doesn’t cause photophobia unless cornea involved.
Q14. Membrane that bleeds on peeling indicates:
A. VKC
B. Adenoviral conjunctivitis
C. Diphtheritic conjunctivitis
D. Toxic conjunctivitis
View Answer
C. Diphtheritic conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: True membrane means adherent necrotic epithelium.
Q15. Follicles are most commonly seen on:
A. Bulbar conjunctiva
B. Inferior palpebral conjunctiva
C. Limbus
D. Caruncle
View Answer
B. Inferior palpebral conjunctiva ✅ Exp: Follicles form in lower tarsal conjunctiva.
Q16. Papilla consists of:
A. Small cysts
B. Central vascular core with epithelial hypertrophy
C. Necrotic cells
D. Lymphoid follicles
View Answer
B. Central vascular core with epithelial hypertrophy ✅ Exp: Seen in bacterial & allergic disease.
Q17. Conjunctival follicles contain:
A. Bacteria
B. Necrotic cells
C. Lymphocytes (germinal centers)
D. Plasma cells
View Answer
C. Lymphocytes (germinal centers) ✅ Exp: Hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue.
Q18. “Tearing + watering + redness” is typical of:
A. Bacterial conjunctivitis
B. Allergic conjunctivitis
C. Viral conjunctivitis (especially adenovirus)
D. Trachoma
View Answer
C. Viral conjunctivitis (especially adenovirus) ✅ Exp: Adenovirus clinically presents this way.
Q19. Which is NOT a symptom of conjunctivitis?
A. Redness
B. Tearing
C. Itching
D. Visual field loss
View Answer
D. Visual field loss ✅ Exp: VF defects are never a conjunctivitis feature.
Q20. Which organism most commonly produces pseudomembranes?
A. Mycoplasma
B. Diphtheria
C. Adenovirus (EKC)
D. Chlamydia
View Answer
C. Adenovirus (EKC) ✅ Exp: Adenoviral EKC frequently forms pseudomembranes.
Q21. A patient with follicles and watery discharge most likely has:
A. Bacterial conjunctivitis
B. Allergic conjunctivitis
C. Viral conjunctivitis (adenovirus)
D. Toxic conjunctivitis
View Answer
C. Viral conjunctivitis (adenovirus) ✅ Exp: Classic triad for viral disease.
Q22. Severe itching suggests:
A. Viral
B. Bacterial
C. Allergic conjunctivitis
D. Chlamydial
View Answer
C. Allergic conjunctivitis ✅ Exp: Itching is hallmark of allergy.
Q23. “Glue eye” in the morning is typical of:
A. Adenovirus
B. Bacterial conjunctivitis (staph/strep)
C. VKC
D. AKC
View Answer
B. Bacterial conjunctivitis (staph/strep) ✅ Exp: Mucopurulent discharge dries overnight.
Q24. Which organism classically causes membrane + pseudomembrane both?
A. Adenovirus
B. N. gonorrhoeae
C. C. diphtheriae
D. C. trachomatis
View Answer
A. Adenovirus ✅ Exp: Adenovirus: membrane = rare; pseudomembrane = common.
Q25. Giant papillae are typically located at:
A. Lower fornix
B. Upper tarsal conjunctiva
C. Bulbar conjunctiva
D. Limbus
View Answer
B. Upper tarsal conjunctiva ✅ Exp: Important exam point for VKC & GPC.
Q26. Which discharge suggests chlamydial conjunctivitis?
A. Watery
B. Thick purulent
C. Stringy mucopurulent
D. Ropy
View Answer
C. Stringy mucopurulent ✅ Exp: Mucopurulent discharge + follicles.
Q27. Membranous conjunctivitis is most dangerous due to:
A. Pain
B. Hyperemia
C. Corneal involvement + ulcer risk
D. Ptosis
View Answer
C. Corneal involvement + ulcer risk ✅ Exp: Necrotic tissue → risk of scarring & perforation.
Q28. Which conjunctival sign points to viral etiology?
A. Cobblestone papillae
B. Stringy discharge
C. Follicles + preauricular lymph nodes
D. Pseudomembrane alone
View Answer
C. Follicles + preauricular lymph nodes ✅ Exp: This combination = adenovirus.
Q29. Most common cause of acute red eye worldwide:
A. Allergy
B. Trauma
C. Viral conjunctivitis (adenovirus)
D. Bacterial
View Answer
C. Viral conjunctivitis (adenovirus) ✅ Exp: Highly contagious & epidemic potential.
Q30. Which pattern of injection is typical of conjunctivitis?
A. Circumcorneal
B. Sectoral
C. Deep episcleral
D. Diffuse, superficial conjunctival hyperemia
View Answer
D. Diffuse, superficial conjunctival hyperemia ✅ Exp: Moves with cotton tip; blanches with phenylephrine.
