A corneal epithelial defect with no underlying infiltrate is defined as?

A corneal epithelial defect with no underlying infiltrate is defined as?

• A. Corneal abrasion
• B. Corneal ulcer
• C. Epithelial defect
• D. Keratitis

Answer: (A)

The key idea is distinguishing a surface-only epithelial disruption from problems that involve deeper corneal layers. A corneal epithelial defect with no underlying infiltrate is a corneal abrasion. It’s a superficial break in the corneal epithelium without stromal involvement or inflammatory infiltrate—often from minor trauma or rubbing. Because the stroma isn’t affected, you don’t see the infiltrate that characterizes a corneal ulcer (which implies stromal loss) or keratitis (which denotes inflammation, typically with deeper tissue involvement). The term epithelial defect alone is generic, but with no infiltrate the specific, most accurate label is abrasion.

The key idea is distinguishing a surface-only epithelial disruption from problems that involve deeper corneal layers. A corneal epithelial defect with no underlying infiltrate is a corneal abrasion. It’s a superficial break in the corneal epithelium without stromal involvement or inflammatory infiltrate—often from minor trauma or rubbing. Because the stroma isn’t affected, you don’t see the infiltrate that characterizes a corneal ulcer (which implies stromal loss) or keratitis (which denotes inflammation, typically with deeper tissue involvement). The term epithelial defect alone is generic, but with no infiltrate the specific, most accurate label is abrasion.