xerophthalmia

[ zeer-of-thal-mee-uh, -op- ]
/ ˌzɪər ɒfˈθæl mi ə, -ɒp- /

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

OTHER WORDS FROM xerophthalmia

xe·roph·thal·mic, adjective

Words nearby xerophthalmia

xeroma, xeromenia, xeromorphic, xerophagy, xerophilous, xerophthalmia, xerophyte, xeroradiograph, xeroradiography, xerosere, xerosis

Example sentences from the Web for xerophthalmia

  • The development of deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, xerophthalmia, rickets and malnutrition).

    Dietetics for Nurses |Fairfax T. Proudfit

British Dictionary definitions for xerophthalmia

xerophthalmia
/ (ˌzɪərɒfˈθælmɪə) /

noun

pathol excessive dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva, caused by a deficiency of vitamin A Also called: xeroma (zɪˈrəʊmə)

Derived forms of xerophthalmia

xerophthalmic, adjective

Medical definitions for xerophthalmia

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