How do corneal neovascularization signs progress in ulcers?

• A. About 4 days after onset, about 1 mm per day
• B. Immediately after onset, 2 mm per day
• C. After 2 weeks, 0.5 mm per day
• D. Never occurs

Answer: (A)

Corneal neovascularization in ulcers arises from the limbal blood supply and progresses centripetally into the cornea as part of the inflammatory healing response. The signs typically begin a few days after the ulcer forms, with about four days being a common onset point. From there, new vessels advance at roughly a millimeter per day toward the ulcer, so you would expect to see a steady, linear progression of vascular ingrowth over the next several days. This observable rate helps clinicians gauge the activity and aggressiveness of the underlying inflammation and healing potential. The other scenarios—neovascularization appearing immediately, advancing much faster than 1 mm/day, taking two weeks to appear, or never occurring—don’t align with the typical angiogenic response of the cornea to ulcerative injury.