Xerophthalmia is a progressive eye disease that is caused by vitamin A deficiency in the body, which leads to dry eyes, and may result in long-term complications such as night blindness or the onset of corneal ulcers, for example.
Although it has severe complications, xerophthalmia usually has a cure, which can be achieved by increasing the intake of vitamin A in foods such as whole milk, cheese or eggs, or by supplementation with the vitamin.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of xerophthalmia begin mildly and are getting worse as the lack of vitamin A gets worse. Thus over time, symptoms such as:
- Burning sensation in the eyes;
- Dry eye;
- Difficulty in seeing in darker environments;
In its most advanced form, xerophthalmia begins to cause lesions and ulcers in the cornea, which can be seen as small white patches on the eye, called Bitot's spots, which if left untreated can lead to blindness. Learn more about this stains and how to treat.
What causes xerophthalmia
The only cause of xerophthalmia is the lack of vitamin A in the body because it is a very important vitamin in the composition of the proteins that absorb light in the retina. Since the body does not produce vitamin A, it is very important to ingest it in food, through food such as animal liver, meat, milk or eggs.
However, there are some types of diets that restrict the consumption of this type of food, as there are places where access to these foods is very limited. In these cases, it is always important to take vitamin A supplements to prevent the onset of xerophthalmia and other problems caused by lack of vitamin A.
How is the treatment done?
The initial recommended treatment for xerophthalmia is increased intake of foods with vitamin A, such as liver, dairy or eggs. However, in more advanced cases it may be necessary to supplement with vitamin A, either through tablets or with injections directly into the vein. See a more complete list of foods rich in vitamin A.
In cases where there are corneal lesions, the ophthalmologist may need to prescribe the use of antibiotics during the treatment with the supplements to eliminate possible infections that are happening in the cornea, avoiding the aggravation of the complications.
Typically, symptoms improve within a few days of vitamin A supplementation, but there are cases where vision problems do not improve, especially if there are already scarring on the cornea, which in the long run may even result in blindness.
How to prevent the onset of xerophthalmia
The best way to prevent the onset of xerophylia is by regularly eating foods with vitamin A, however, if dietary restrictions are present or if such foods are not readily available, one should invest in the consumption of vitamin A supplements to ensure levels in the body.
There is a greater risk of developing xerophthalmia in people with risk factors such as:
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Cystic fibrosis;
- Liver or bowel disease;
- Chronic diarrhea.
Thus, whenever possible, one should avoid this type of risk factors, starting the appropriate treatment in the case of diseases, for example.
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