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

xeroma, xeromenia, xeromorphic, xerophagy, xerophilous, xerophthalmia, xerophyte, xeroradiograph, xeroradiography, xerosere, xerosis

Origin of xerophthalmia

1650–60; xer- + ophthalmia

Related forms

xe·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 Forms

xerophthalmic, 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