In a child with primary congenital glaucoma, Haab's striae represent breaks in which structure?

• A Descemet's membrane ✓
• B Bowman's layer
• C Stroma of the cornea
• D Endothelium

Explanation

Raised intraocular pressure stretches the infantile cornea, producing horizontal or curvilinear tears in Descemet's membrane known as Haab's striae. These heal with endothelial laying down of new basement membrane but leave permanent refractive error from induced astigmatism. Bowman's layer and the stroma are not the site of these breaks, and the endothelial cell layer itself remains continuous over the torn area.

Reference: Parsons' Diseases of the Eye, 22nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.