xerophthalmia

[zeer-of-thal-mee-uh, -op-]

noun Ophthalmology.

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

Origin of xerophthalmia

1650–60; xer- + ophthalmia

Related formsxe·roph·thal·mic, adjective

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Examples from the Web for xerophthalmia

Historical Examples of xerophthalmia

The development of deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, xerophthalmia, rickets and malnutrition).
Dietetics for Nurses
Fairfax T. Proudfit

British Dictionary definitions for xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia

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

xerophthalmia in Medicine

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