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xerophthalmia

[ 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.

Nearby words

  1. xeroma,
  2. xeromenia,
  3. xeromorphic,
  4. xerophagy,
  5. xerophilous,
  6. xerophyte,
  7. xeroradiograph,
  8. xeroradiography,
  9. xerosere,
  10. xerosis

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for xerophthalmia

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

    Dietetics for Nurses|Fairfax T. Proudfit
British Dictionary definitions for xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia

/ (ˌzɪərɒfˈθælmɪə) /

noun

pathol excessive dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva, caused by a deficiency of vitamin AAlso called: xeroma (zɪˈrəʊmə)
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
Medicine definitions for xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia

[ zîr′ŏf-thăl′mē-ə ]

n.

Extreme dryness of the conjunctiva resulting from disease localized in the eye or from a systemic deficiency of vitamin A.xeroma
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.