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xerophthalmia

[zeer-of-thal-mee-uh, -op-]
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noun Ophthalmology.
  1. abnormal dryness of the eyeball characterized by conjunctivitis, caused by a deficiency of tears and attributed to a lack of vitamin A.
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Origin of xerophthalmia

1650–60; xer- + ophthalmia
Related formsxe·roph·thal·mic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for xerophthalmia

Historical Examples

  • The development of deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, xerophthalmia, rickets and malnutrition).

    Dietetics for Nurses

    Fairfax T. Proudfit

British Dictionary definitions for xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia

noun
  1. pathol excessive dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva, caused by a deficiency of vitamin AAlso called: xeroma (zɪˈrəʊmə)
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Derived Formsxerophthalmic, adjective
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
xerophthalmia in Medicine

xerophthalmia

(zîr′ŏf-thăl′mē-ə)
n.
  1. Extreme dryness of the conjunctiva resulting from disease localized in the eye or from a systemic deficiency of vitamin A.xeroma
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.