Xerophthalmia is a progressive disease of the eyes that is caused by a deficiency of vitamin A in the body, which leads to dry eyes, which may result, in the long term, in complications such as night blindness or the appearance of ulcers in the cornea, for example.
Although it has serious complications, xerophthalmia is usually curable, which can be achieved by increasing the intake of vitamin A in foods such as whole milk, cheese or eggs, or by supplementing with the vitamin.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of xerophthalmia start slightly and worsen as the lack of vitamin A worsens. Thus, over time, symptoms such as:
- Burning sensation in the eyes; Dry eye; Difficulty 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 spots on the eye, called Bitot spots, which if left untreated can lead to blindness. Find out more about this spots and how to treat.
What causes xerophthalmia
The only cause of xerophthalmia is the lack of vitamin A in the body, as this is a very important vitamin in the composition of proteins that absorb light in the retina. Since the body does not produce vitamin A, it is very important to ingest it in the diet, through foods 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 well as places where access to these foods is very limited. In such cases, it is always important to take vitamin A supplements to prevent xerophthalmia and other problems caused by a lack of vitamin A.
How the treatment is done
The recommended initial treatment for xerophthalmia is to increase your intake of foods with vitamin A, such as liver, dairy products or eggs. However, in more advanced cases it may be necessary to supplement with vitamin A, through tablets or injections directly into the vein. See a more complete list of foods rich in vitamin A.
In cases where there are lesions in the cornea, the ophthalmologist may need to prescribe the use of antibiotics during treatment with the supplements to eliminate possible infections that are happening in the cornea, avoiding the worsening of complications.
Symptoms usually improve in a few days of vitamin A supplementation, but there are cases where vision problems do not improve, especially if there are already scars on the cornea, which in the long run can even result in blindness.
How to prevent xerophthalmia
The best way to prevent xerophthalmia is to regularly consume foods with vitamin A, however, if there are dietary restrictions or if this type of food is not readily available, you should invest in the consumption of vitamin A supplements to ensure adequate 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; Diseases of the liver or intestine; Chronic diarrhea.
Thus, whenever possible, this type of risk factors should be avoided, starting with appropriate treatment in the case of diseases, for example.
