Papilledema is associated with what?

• A. Increased intracranial pressure
• B. Conjunctivitis
• C. Macular degeneration
• D. Dry eye

Answer: (A)

Papilledema is swelling of the optic disc caused by raised intracranial pressure. The brain’s pressure is transmitted along the optic nerve sheath, slowing axoplasmic flow at the lamina cribrosa and producing disc edema. This sign is typically bilateral and painless and points to serious intracranial issues such as brain tumor, hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, or meningitis. It’s not caused by conjunctivitis (eye surface inflammation), macular degeneration (macula disease), or dry eye (tear film problem), which affect other parts of the eye rather than the optic nerve head.