EyeRounds Online Atlas of Ophthalmology

Contributor:
William Charles Caccamise Sr,MD, Retired Clinical Prof of Ophthalmology-U of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Category: Cornea
Diagnosis: profound xerophthalmia due to vitamin A deficiency

Image Comments:

Vitamin A deficiency remains one of the leading causes of blindness in rural third world countries. This was one of Dr. Caccamise's patients in India. Corneal involvement such as this is seen when the vitamin deficiency occurs from early childhood. Acutely, the child developes corneal disturbances which may progress to keratomalacia with dissolution of the corneas. In older children, the corneas may take on this xerophthalmic state. Vitamin A deficiency beginning after childhood normally does not cause this type of xerophthalmia.In an infant and in young children, vitamin A deficiency is an acute emergency requiring immediate hospitalization. Keratomalacia may melt the cornea within a few hours - before the ophthalmologist's eyes. The treatment is massive doses of vitamins parenterally, cycloplegics to the eyes, and antibiotic eye ointments.The effects of treatment may be spectacular.

 

 

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