What visual effect is commonly noticed with corneal edema?

Corneal edema occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the cornea, leading to swelling and a disruption in the cornea's clarity and structure. One of the primary visual effects reported by individuals experiencing corneal edema is smoky vision. This visual disturbance is characterized by a hazy or blurred appearance, often resembling the sight through a smoky lens. This effect arises because the swelling of the cornea interferes with the transmission of light through it, degrading the quality of the image that reaches the retina. As a result, individuals with corneal edema may perceive their surroundings as less clear, thus experiencing difficulties with visual acuity.

The other options do not accurately describe the effects of corneal edema. Enhanced visual clarity would be contradictory to the conditions caused by swelling, as clarity typically decreases. Faded colors can occur in various visual disturbances but are not a specific consequence of corneal edema. Increased glare can be a result of surface irregularity but is secondary and not universally reported as the primary effect experienced with corneal edema. Thus, smoky vision is the most representative and commonly reported visual effect associated with this condition.