Question

A patient comes to the clinic with acute onset of sever eye pain and photophobia. The nurse practitioner used fluorescein dye and observed fern-like lines on the corneal surface. What may this indicate and what is the best treatment option?

a. Herpes keratitis - Zovirax
b. Herpes keratitis - ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan)
c. Corneal abrasion - Ofloxacin (ocuflox)
d. Corneal abrasion - ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan)

Answer 1

Fern-like patterns on the cornea with fluorescein dye indicate herpes keratitis, best treated with an antiviral medication like Zovirax (acyclovir), not antibiotics.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse practitioner observes fern-like lines on the corneal surface after applying fluorescein dye, this might indicate herpes keratitis, which is an infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Effective treatment for herpes keratitis typically involves antiviral medications, and Zovirax (acyclovir) is an example of such a medication. Therefore, the correct answer is a. Herpes keratitis - Zovirax. Ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin are antibiotics and would not be effective against a viral infection like herpes keratitis. These antibiotics would be suitable for bacterial causes of keratitis, such as those mentioned in connection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus epidermidis.