Red eye: acute angle-closure glaucoma: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Red eye: acute angle-closure glaucoma

Sample item

A patient has sudden severe eye pain, headache, nausea, halos around lights, a red eye, and a fixed mid-dilated pupil. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Acute angle closure causes rapid elevation of intraocular pressure with painful red eye, corneal edema, nausea, and a mid-dilated pupil. It is an ophthalmic emergency requiring immediate pressure-lowering treatment and definitive management.

Option by option

  • A. Chronic open-angle glaucoma

    Open-angle glaucoma is usually chronic and painless.

  • B. Corneal abrasion

    Corneal abrasion causes pain and photophobia but not typically a mid-dilated pupil.

  • C. Conjunctivitis

    Conjunctivitis causes irritation and discharge but not a fixed pupil and severe headache.

  • D. Acute angle-closure glaucoma (correct)

    Correct. This symptom cluster is classic acute angle closure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is D, Acute angle-closure glaucoma. Acute angle closure causes rapid elevation of intraocular pressure with painful red eye, corneal edema, nausea, and a mid-dilated pupil.

Why is "Chronic open-angle glaucoma" not the answer?

Open-angle glaucoma is usually chronic and painless.

Why is "Corneal abrasion" not the answer?

Corneal abrasion causes pain and photophobia but not typically a mid-dilated pupil.

Why is "Conjunctivitis" not the answer?

Conjunctivitis causes irritation and discharge but not a fixed pupil and severe headache.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Red eye: acute angle-closure glaucoma in Ophthalmology. It is an ophthalmic emergency requiring immediate pressure-lowering treatment and definitive management.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Red eye: acute angle-closure glaucoma?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.