Red eye
Revise conjunctivitis, episcleritis, keratitis, iritis, scleritis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, contact lens risk, photophobia, pain and reduced visual acuity.
MRCGP AKT eyes and vision revision
Eye questions test whether you can separate common primary-care problems from sight-threatening presentations: painful red eye, sudden visual loss, new flashes or floaters, diplopia and glaucoma-type symptoms.
Quick answer
For AKT eyes and vision revision, prioritise red eye red flags, reduced visual acuity, photophobia, contact lens keratitis, acute glaucoma, retinal detachment, sudden visual loss, diplopia, cataracts, glaucoma, AMD and diabetic eye disease.
What to revise first
Visual loss and field defects
Know sudden versus gradual visual loss, monocular versus binocular symptoms, visual field loss, amaurosis fugax, retinal vascular events and when same-day eye assessment is needed.
Flashes, floaters and distortion
Focus on retinal detachment clues, vitreous haemorrhage, new floaters, curtain-like field loss, metamorphopsia, Amsler chart use and wet AMD urgency.
Glaucoma and cataracts
Cover chronic open-angle glaucoma case-finding, raised intraocular pressure, optic-disc changes, cataract symptoms, visual function and referral thresholds.
Diabetic and vascular eye disease
Revise diabetic retinopathy screening, macular oedema, hypertensive eye disease, retinal vein or artery occlusion and cardiovascular risk implications.
Diplopia, pupils and eyelids
Know diplopia red flags, cranial nerve palsies, Horner's syndrome, ptosis, orbital cellulitis, entropion, ectropion, lid lumps and when symptoms suggest neurology.
Red flags to recognise quickly
- Painful red eye with reduced vision, photophobia, corneal opacity or contact lens use
- Sudden visual loss, curtain-like field defect, new flashes or a shower of floaters
- Severe eye pain with headache, halos, nausea, vomiting or a fixed mid-dilated pupil
- Diplopia with headache, ptosis, abnormal pupils, focal neurology or suspected cranial nerve palsy
- Distorted central vision, rapidly worsening vision or suspected wet macular degeneration
- Orbital swelling, painful eye movements, fever, proptosis or suspected orbital cellulitis
Why eye questions catch candidates out
Many stems start like simple conjunctivitis or age-related blur. The mark is often the danger feature: reduced vision, pain, photophobia, contact lens use, field loss, distortion, abnormal pupil or new neurological symptoms.
AKT eyes and vision FAQ
Is eyes and vision high yield for the MRCGP AKT?
Yes. Eyes and vision is a named RCGP curriculum topic and AKT questions commonly test red eye, visual loss, flashes and floaters, diplopia, glaucoma, cataracts, AMD, diabetic eye disease and urgent referral thresholds.
What eye topics should I revise for the AKT?
Prioritise red eye red flags, reduced visual acuity, photophobia, contact lens keratitis, acute glaucoma, retinal detachment, sudden visual loss, diplopia, cataracts, glaucoma, AMD and diabetic retinopathy screening.
How does red eye come up in AKT questions?
Red eye questions often test whether the presentation is safe to manage in primary care or needs same-day eye assessment because of pain, photophobia, reduced vision, contact lens use, corneal change or suspected glaucoma.
What visual loss red flags are high yield for the AKT?
Know sudden painless visual loss, curtain-like field defect, new flashes or floaters, distorted central vision, diplopia with neurological signs, painful red eye with reduced vision and orbital cellulitis features.
Official sources
This is revision guidance, not official RCGP advice. Check current RCGP, NICE CKS and BNF guidance for clinical decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.
October sitting
Oct 26
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days
Keep moving, even on tired days.
Questions, mocks and explanations are free. Your first 2 hours of AKT audio are free. Full 4-month audio access is £79.