Posts

Showing posts with the label What is xerophthalmia?

Xerophthalmia: a serious eye condition

Xerophthalmia is a medical condition in which the eye film is reduced and the eye is incapable of producing tears. This appears when there is something wrong with lacrimal glands and their main function, meaning to produce tears, is affected.  Xerophthalmia is also known as the dry eye syndrome or conjunctivitis arida and it can affect the quality of life to an extensive level. The tears are very important to the health of our eyes, because they actually keep it lubricated.  Without eye film, we would never be protected against particles and debris coming from the outside. This is why having healthy tear film also guarantees healthy eyes, meaning a good vision as well.  Stages of xerophthalmia Severe xerophthalmia is virtually confined to infants and young children and usually associated with protein-energy malnutrition.  The stages are classified by the WHO as follows: 1. Night blindness (XIN) is the earliest symptom but not elicited in infants. In conjunctival xerosis (XIA) one or m