xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia /xe·roph·thal·mia/ (zēr″of-thal´me-ah) abnormal dryness and thickening of the conjunctiva and cornea due to vitamin A deficiency.

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xe·roph·thal·mi·a (zîrf-thlm-)

n.

Extreme dryness of the conjunctiva resulting from disease localized in the eye or from a systemic deficiency of vitamin A. Also called xeroma.

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Xerophthalmia

Xerophthalmia is a dry, thickened, lusterless condition of the eyeball resulting from vitamin A deficiency.

Mentioned in: Visual Impairment, Vitamin A Deficiency

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xerophthalmia

[zir′ofthal′mē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, xeros + ophthalmos, eye

a condition of dry and lusterless corneas and conjunctival areas, usually the result of vitamin A deficiency and associated with night blindness.

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xerophthalmia (zir´ofthal´mē),

n dryness of the conjunctiva caused by functional or organic disorders of the lacrimal apparatus. It may be found in vitamin A deficiency or Sjögren's syndrome and may follow chronic conjunctivitis.

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xerophthalmia

abnormal dryness and thickening of the surface of the conjunctiva and cornea due to a deficiency of vitamin A or to local disease.

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xerophthalmia 

Extreme dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea due to a failure of the secretory activity of the mucin-secreting goblet cells of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva and cornea lose their lustre and become skin-like in appearance. The condition may even propagate to the cornea and give rise to keratoconjunctivitis sicca and, if severe, keratomalacia. Xerophthalmia may be due to trauma, exposure or systemic deficiency of vitamin A, etc. Syn. xeroma; xerosis of the conjunctiva (if the cornea is not involved). See keratoconjunctivitis sicca; keratomalacia; mucin; Bitot's spot.

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xerophthalmia

Dry eye syndrome, see there