Which statement about corneal infiltrates and staining is accurate?

Which statement about corneal infiltrates and staining is accurate?

• A. They do not stain with NaFl
• B. They stain with NaFl
• C. They stain with rose bengal
• D. They stain with iodine

Answer: (B)

Fluorescein staining is used to reveal breaks in the corneal epithelium. A corneal infiltrate typically sits with disruption of the surface around or over it, so when fluorescein is applied, the dye pools in these defects and the infiltrate becomes visible as a green-stained area under cobalt-blue light. This makes fluorescein a reliable way to detect and assess infiltrates. Rose bengal stains devitalized or damaged epithelial cells and areas of surface dryness, so it can show surface problems but isn’t the primary method for outlining an infiltrate. Iodine isn’t used for corneal surface staining in this context.

Fluorescein staining is used to reveal breaks in the corneal epithelium. A corneal infiltrate typically sits with disruption of the surface around or over it, so when fluorescein is applied, the dye pools in these defects and the infiltrate becomes visible as a green-stained area under cobalt-blue light. This makes fluorescein a reliable way to detect and assess infiltrates. Rose bengal stains devitalized or damaged epithelial cells and areas of surface dryness, so it can show surface problems but isn’t the primary method for outlining an infiltrate. Iodine isn’t used for corneal surface staining in this context.