How quickly can the cornea become cloudy after death if the eyes are open?

The cornea is known to become cloudy relatively quickly after death due to the lack of oxygen and the disruption of metabolic processes. If the eyes are open, the cornea is exposed to air, exacerbating the dehydration process, which contributes to its cloudiness. Research indicates that corneal cloudiness can occur within two hours post-mortem under these conditions. This rapid change is significant in forensic science, as it can provide critical information regarding the time of death.

Other choices suggest longer timeframes for this change to occur, but they do not align with the biological facts regarding the cornea's reaction to the immediate post-mortem environment. Understanding these processes is vital for professionals interpreting conditions at a crime scene or in the field of forensic pathology.