keratomalacia

keratomalacia /ker·a·to·ma·la·cia/ (ker″ah-to-mah-la´shah) softening and necrosis of the cornea associated with vitamin A deficiency.

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ker·a·to·ma·la·cia (kr-t-m-lsh)

n.

A condition, usually in children with vitamin A deficiency, characterized by softening and subsequent ulceration and perforation of the cornea.

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Keratomalacia

Keratomalacia is ulceration of the cornea.

Mentioned in: Vitamin A Deficiency

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keratomalacia

[-məlā′shə]

Etymology: Gk, keras + malakia, softness

a condition characterized by xerosis and ulceration of the cornea, resulting from severe vitamin A deficiency. It commonly occurs as a secondary result of diseases that affect vitamin A absorption or storage, such as ulcerative colitis, celiac syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sprue. Also at risk are infants and children who are given dilute formula, who are malnourished, or who are allergic to whole milk and fed skimmed milk, which is a poor source of vitamin A. Early symptoms include night blindness; photophobia; swelling and redness of the eyelids; and drying, roughness, pain, and wrinkling of the conjunctiva. In advanced deficiency, Bitot's spots appear; the cornea becomes dull, lusterless, and hazy, and without adequate therapy it eventually softens and perforates, resulting in blindness. See also vitamin A.

interventions Treatment consists of vitamin A supplements. The dosage is determined by the severity of the condition, although prolonged daily administration of large doses, especially to infants, may result in hypervitaminosis. An adequate diet containing whole milk and foods high in vitamin A or carotenes prevents the condition.

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keratomalacia

softening and necrosis of the cornea associated with vitamin A deficiency.

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keratomalacia

Vitamin A deficiency in which the cornea becomes desiccated at first and then softens, at which stage it is associated with infiltration, pannus, necrosis, opacification and the eye becomes blind. There is also a lack of reaction to inflammation leading to a destruction of the eye if infection occurs. It is part of a general systemic condition due to malnutrition. Associated with this condition are night blindness, faulty growth of bone, xerophthalmia, etc. See hemeralopia.