In terms of keratometry, what does a loose fitting lens indicate about the appearance of the mires?

A loose fitting lens typically indicates that the alignment between the lens and the cornea is not optimal, allowing the lens to move excessively during blinking. This movement can significantly affect the appearance of the mires used in keratometry, which are the patterns seen through the keratometer.

When a lens is too loose, it may compress the tear film below it during the blink, leading to the formation of air bubbles or other disturbances that obscure the view of the mires. As a result, right before blinking, the mires can appear clear because the lens is stable for a brief moment. However, shortly after the blink, with the lens shifting and the tear film disturbed, the mires can become distorted, resulting in a blur.

This phenomenon explains why a loose fitting lens would correspond to mires appearing clear just before a blink and blurry immediately after, correlating with the correct choice. The other options describe different scenarios that do not accurately reflect the effects of lens movement on the visibility of the mires.