Ground glass appearance of the cornea after a chemical splash to the eye indicates which burn type?

• A. Acid burn
• B. Alkali burn
• C. Thermal burn
• D. Radiation burn

Answer: (A)

Acids cause coagulative necrosis in the cornea, so proteins denature and form a protective coagulum that tends to stay superficially, producing a smooth, hazy, glassy appearance often described as ground glass. This characteristic indicates the injury is more likely an acid burn, where penetration is limited to the anterior layers. In contrast, alkali burns cause liquefactive necrosis, allowing rapid, deeper penetration and more extensive destruction of cornea and limbus, which usually doesn’t present as a ground-glass haze. So the ground-glass cornea after a chemical splash points to an acid burn. Prompt irrigation and pH checked/neutralized are essential steps in management.