Common Eye Diseases
- Conjunctivitis: Viral (adenovirus), bacterial (Staph, H. influenzae), allergic. Differentiate by discharge type.
- Keratitis: Corneal ulceration. Most common cause: Staphylococcus in contact lens users. Feature: ciliary injection.
- Uveitis: Anterior (iritis, HLA-B27), posterior (TB, sarcoid, toxoplasmosis).
Glaucoma
Primary open-angle: insidious, optic disc cupping, visual field loss. Primary angle-closure: acute (halos, severe pain, fixed mid-dilated pupil). Treatment: pilocarpine, timolol, prostaglandin analogs.
Cataract
Nuclear sclerosis (age-related), cortical spokes, subcapsular (posterior = more vision loss). Surgery: phacoemulsification + IOL.
Retinal Disorders
- Diabetic retinopathy: NPDR (microaneurysms) -> PDR (neovascularization)
- Retinal detachment: Flashes, floaters, curtain over vision
- AMD: Drusen, geographic atrophy
Ophthalmic Drugs
Timolol, latanoprost, pilocarpine, tropicamide, fluorometholone, ofloxacin.
References & further reading
Every clinical claim in this article is anchored to a primary source. Click through to verify, and use the same habit in your revision.
Revision history
- 19 September 2026 — Initial publication
Frequently asked questions
How many ophthalmology questions in UPSC CMS?
3-4 questions typically. Focus on: refractive errors, common infections (conjunctivitis, keratitis), glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy.
What are the most important ophthalmology topics?
Glaucoma (types, treatment), cataract (lens opacities, surgery), refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, ocular trauma, and common infections.
Do I need to know ophthalmology instruments?
Know the basics: ophthalmoscope (direct/indirect), slit lamp, tonometer, and the A-scan/B-scan. These appear in image-based questions.
Related reading
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