Glaucoma: congenital: 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 · Glaucoma: congenital

Sample item

An infant has watering, photophobia and blepharospasm with an enlarged hazy cornea of 13 mm diameter. What is the treatment of choice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Surgery such as goniotomy or trabeculotomy

Primary congenital glaucoma is due to trabeculodysgenesis, producing buphthalmos and Haab's striae from Descemet's tears. Medical therapy is only a bridge, and angle surgery is definitive.

Option by option

  • A. Surgery such as goniotomy or trabeculotomy (correct)

    Correct. Angle surgery is the first-line treatment.

  • B. Pilocarpine drops alone

    Drops are not sufficient.

  • C. Observation

    Delay causes irreversible vision loss.

  • D. Laser iridotomy

    Iridotomy does not address the trabeculodysgenesis.

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 A, Surgery such as goniotomy or trabeculotomy. Primary congenital glaucoma is due to trabeculodysgenesis, producing buphthalmos and Haab's striae from Descemet's tears.

Why is "Pilocarpine drops alone" not the answer?

Drops are not sufficient.

Why is "Observation" not the answer?

Delay causes irreversible vision loss.

Why is "Laser iridotomy" not the answer?

Iridotomy does not address the trabeculodysgenesis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Glaucoma: congenital in Ophthalmology. Medical therapy is only a bridge, and angle surgery is definitive.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Glaucoma: congenital?

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.