Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils: Anton syndrome: 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 · Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils: Anton syndrome

Sample item

After bilateral posterior cerebral artery infarcts, a 70-year-old man cannot see and bumps into furniture, yet insists he can see normally and describes the room confidently. The pupils react normally to light. What is this syndrome called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Anton syndrome

Anton syndrome is cortical blindness from bilateral occipital damage with denial of the deficit and confabulation. The pupillary reflex is preserved because the afferent pathway to the pretectum is intact. Balint syndrome involves simultanagnosia and optic ataxia.

Option by option

  • A. Gerstmann syndrome

    Gerstmann syndrome is dominant parietal, with agraphia, acalculia and finger agnosia.

  • B. Anton syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Denial of blindness with preserved pupillary reflexes is Anton syndrome.

  • C. Balint syndrome

    Balint syndrome is simultanagnosia, optic ataxia and ocular apraxia, without denial.

  • D. Charles Bonnet syndrome

    Charles Bonnet syndrome is visual hallucinations in people who know they have poor vision.

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.

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Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is B, Anton syndrome. Anton syndrome is cortical blindness from bilateral occipital damage with denial of the deficit and confabulation.

Why is "Gerstmann syndrome" not the answer?

Gerstmann syndrome is dominant parietal, with agraphia, acalculia and finger agnosia.

Why is "Balint syndrome" not the answer?

Balint syndrome is simultanagnosia, optic ataxia and ocular apraxia, without denial.

Why is "Charles Bonnet syndrome" not the answer?

Charles Bonnet syndrome is visual hallucinations in people who know they have poor vision.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils: Anton syndrome in Ophthalmology. The pupillary reflex is preserved because the afferent pathway to the pretectum is intact. Balint syndrome involves simultanagnosia and optic ataxia.

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 Neuro-ophthalmology and pupils: Anton syndrome?

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.