xerophthalmia

American

[zeer-of-thal-mee-uh, -op-] / ˌzɪər ɒfˈθæl mi ə, -ɒp- /

noun

Ophthalmology.

abnormal dryness of the eyeball characterized by conjunctivitis, caused by a deficiency of tears and attributed to a lack of vitamin A.

xerophthalmia British

/ ˌzɪərɒfˈθælmɪə /

noun

Also called: xeroma. pathol excessive dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva, caused by a deficiency of vitamin A

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

xerophthalmic

adjective

Etymology

Origin of xerophthalmia

1650–60; xer- ( def. ) + ophthalmia

Vocabulary lists containing xerophthalmia

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Example Sentences

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GUERRERO, L. E., AND CONCEPCION: Xerophthalmia in fowls on polished rice and its clinical importance.

From The Vitamine Manual by Eddy, Walter H.

Xerophthalmia: Xerophthalmia and optic atrophy were seen occasionally and often left permanent damage to vision, and sometimes complete blindness.

From Blood Brothers A Medic's Sketch Book by Rohlfing, Sam

He'd have blubbered like any old Zeuglodon Had Xerophthalmia not come on.

From The Book of Humorous Verse by Wells, Carolyn

Xerophthalmia, zē-rof-thal′mi-a, n. a dry form of conjunctivis.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023