Which term best describes the arcuate pattern of corneal staining near the limbus most commonly associated with tight extended-wear hydrogel lenses?

Which term best describes the arcuate pattern of corneal staining near the limbus most commonly associated with tight extended-wear hydrogel lenses?

• A. Superficial Epithelial Arcuate Lesion (SEAL)
• B. Filamentary keratitis
• C. Guttate keratopathy
• D. Keratoconus

Answer: (A)

This pattern captures how the corneal surface responds to a tightly fitting extended-wear hydrogel lens. The edge of a tight lens rubs against the peripheral cornea, causing superficial epithelial disruption in an arc-like (arcuate) distribution near the limbus. Because the disruption is superficial, fluorescein highlights these small erosions along the periphery, producing the distinct arc-shaped staining that clinicians recognize. The term for this finding is Superficial Epithelial Arcuate Lesion. Filamentary keratitis would show mucous filaments attached to the surface, not a neat arc near the limbus. Guttate keratopathy refers to small, droplet-like changes often related to aging or dryness and is not driven by contact lens edge trauma. Keratoconus involves a conical deformation of the cornea rather than a peripheral arcuate epithelial staining pattern.

This pattern captures how the corneal surface responds to a tightly fitting extended-wear hydrogel lens. The edge of a tight lens rubs against the peripheral cornea, causing superficial epithelial disruption in an arc-like (arcuate) distribution near the limbus. Because the disruption is superficial, fluorescein highlights these small erosions along the periphery, producing the distinct arc-shaped staining that clinicians recognize. The term for this finding is Superficial Epithelial Arcuate Lesion.

Filamentary keratitis would show mucous filaments attached to the surface, not a neat arc near the limbus. Guttate keratopathy refers to small, droplet-like changes often related to aging or dryness and is not driven by contact lens edge trauma. Keratoconus involves a conical deformation of the cornea rather than a peripheral arcuate epithelial staining pattern.