Which of the following is a listed cause of corneal haziness?

• A. Edema
• B. Cataract
• C. Retinal detachment
• D. Glaucoma

Answer: (A)

Corneal haziness comes from processes that directly disrupt the cornea’s transparency, with edema being the most direct mechanism. When the endothelium can’t pump fluid out of the stroma, fluid accumulates in the corneal layers, causing swelling. The swollen stroma scatters light more, producing a cloudy, hazy appearance of the cornea. This is why edema is the listed cause.

Cataract involves lens opacity, not the cornea, so it doesn’t create corneal haze. Retinal detachment affects the retina and vision without changing corneal clarity. Glaucoma can lead to corneal edema indirectly, but the primary, direct cause of corneal haziness in this context is corneal edema.