Hypertensive chorioretinopathy is an acquired disease that presents with which primary signs?

• A. Acute blindness and dilated pupils
• B. Chronic dry eye
• C. Cataracts only
• D. Corneal ulceration

Answer: (A)

Hypertensive chorioretinopathy reflects damage from severe high blood pressure to the retina and optic nerve, and in its more advanced, malignant form the impact can be abrupt and dramatic. The primary signs arise from acute optic nerve/retinal involvement, so sudden vision loss can occur and the pupil may become dilated due to disruption of the normal pupillary light reflex from optic nerve or brain involvement. This scenario is in contrast to the other eye conditions listed, which are not caused by hypertension and do not present with sudden, grave visual impairment and a dilated pupil. While hypertensive retinopathy can also show signs like flame-shaped hemorrhages or cotton-wool spots, the especially noteworthy combination here is acute blindness with a dilated pupil, signaling an urgent hypertensive emergency affecting the retina and optic nerve.