Risk Factors For Xerophthalmia

The word xerophthalmia comes from the Ancient Greek and means, quite literally, dry eye. It is a medical state wherein the eye is failing to produce tears. While xerophthalmia can have vitamin A deficiency at its heart and is occasionally used in the description of that condition, the fact of the matter is there can be a variety of other causes. When it is caused by a severe lack of vitamin A, xerophthalmia consists of pathologic dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva. This latter becomes wrinkled, dry, and thick. If left untreated, this condition can lead ultimately to blindness with corneal ulceration along the way.