What term describes sudden pressure increase causing pain and vision loss?

• A. Open-angle glaucoma
• B. Angle-closure glaucoma
• C. Retinal detachment
• D. Glaucomatous neuropathy

Answer: (B)

A sudden rise in pressure inside the eye accompanied by pain and rapid vision loss is most consistent with acute angle-closure glaucoma. In this scenario, the drainage angle between the iris and cornea becomes blocked, so aqueous humor cannot exit and pressure inside the eye spikes quickly. That rapid buildup pushes on the optic nerve, producing intense eye pain, headache, nausea, halos around lights, and a fast decline in vision. It’s a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to lower the pressure.

Open-angle glaucoma tends to develop gradually and is often painless, with slow, progressive loss of peripheral vision. Retinal detachment presents with sudden symptoms like flashes of light, floaters, or a curtain-like loss of vision. Glaucomatous neuropathy refers to the optic nerve damage that can occur with glaucoma, but it’s not the acute term for a sudden pressure surge.