Fig. 6. A thin (shiny) corneal ulcer with edema and hypopyon are present.
Fig. 4. A prominent white cellular infiltrate with a darker thin center is present.
The Cornea is “Soft and Gelatinous”
Excessive tear film proteinase activity is termed “melting” and results in a liquefied grayish-gelati- nous appearance to the stroma of the ulcer (Fig. 9).
The Cornea is “White or Yellow”
Neutrophil and macrophage invasion of the cornea causes a yellow/white opacity (Figs. 3 and 4).
The Cornea is “Shiny” or “Dark” A very shiny area of the cornea indicates that the cornea is thin (Fig. 2). A dark area can also be from a thin area of cornea (Figs. 5–8), or can be from rupture of the cornea and iris prolapse. Fibrin cov- ering an iris prolapse can be red to pink in color.
Fig. 7. A cellular infiltrate, central melting, and a thin cornea are present. The tapetal reflection is very apparent through the thinned cornea in the ulcer.
Fig. 5. Deep corneal injuries may allow the observation of a darker corneal area if the tapetal reflection is not detectable as in this descemetocele. Fluorescein dye is retained ventral to the deep lesion.
Fig. 8. Corneal cellular infiltrate with thinning of the center and hypopyon are present.
