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Acute angle-closure glaucoma — ABEM Board MCQ

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ModerateHead/Neck/ENT/Ophthalmology emergenciesAcute angle-closure glaucomaABEM Board

A 64-year-old woman arrives with severe eye pain, headache, and vomiting. Triage acuity is ESI 2; BP 168/90 mm Hg, HR 98/min. The right eye is red with a mid-dilated fixed pupil and cloudy cornea. Intraocular pressure is 58 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Painful red eye with fixed mid-dilated pupil, cloudy cornea, vomiting, and very high intraocular pressure indicates acute angle closure.

Reference: AAO glaucoma guidance; emergency ophthalmology references