What is the acute disease causing a break in the cornea?

• A. Diabetic retinopathy
• B. Corneal ulcer
• C. Glaucoma
• D. Iritis

Answer: (B)

A break in the cornea is most classically produced by a corneal ulcer, an acute condition where the corneal surface erodes and an open sore forms. This results from damage to the corneal epithelium that can extend into the stroma, often due to infection (bacterial, fungal, or viral), trauma, or contact lens-related issues. Symptoms are typically sudden and can include eye pain, redness, tearing, sensitivity to light, and decreased vision. It’s an urgent situation because infection can progress and the cornea can perforate if not treated promptly.

The other conditions involve different parts of the eye: diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, glaucoma targets the optic nerve and intraocular pressure, and iritis is inflammation of the iris. Each can cause pain or vision changes, but they do not describe a break or ulceration of the corneal surface.