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 · Angle-closure glaucoma

Sample item

An elderly hypermetropic woman has severe eye pain, headache, vomiting, hazy cornea, fixed mid-dilated pupil and coloured halos around lights. What causes the halos?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Corneal epithelial oedema from high intraocular pressure, which diffracts light

Sudden pressure rise forces fluid into the corneal epithelium, which scatters light into rings. The oedema also obscures the angle and iris detail. Lowering pressure clears the cornea.

Option by option

  • A. Vitreous floaters

    Floaters appear as moving spots.

  • B. Retinal ischaemia

    Retinal ischaemia reduces vision without rings.

  • C. Nuclear sclerosis of the lens

    Nuclear sclerosis causes myopic shift and glare, not an acute painful presentation.

  • D. Corneal epithelial oedema from high intraocular pressure, which diffracts light (correct)

    Correct. Corneal oedema diffracts light into halos.

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, Corneal epithelial oedema from high intraocular pressure, which diffracts light. Sudden pressure rise forces fluid into the corneal epithelium, which scatters light into rings.

Why is "Vitreous floaters" not the answer?

Floaters appear as moving spots.

Why is "Retinal ischaemia" not the answer?

Retinal ischaemia reduces vision without rings.

Why is "Nuclear sclerosis of the lens" not the answer?

Nuclear sclerosis causes myopic shift and glare, not an acute painful presentation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Angle-closure glaucoma in Ophthalmology. The oedema also obscures the angle and iris detail. Lowering pressure clears the cornea.

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 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.