Cornea xerosis

Night blindness (inability to see in dim light), conjunctival xerosis (dry and non-wettable conjunctiva), corneal xerosis (dry and non-wettable cornea and become opaque), keratomalacia (cornea becomes soft and burst open and vision is lost), Bitot s spots, growth retardation, dry and rough skin, sterility due to faulty spermatogenesis. 

Keratomalacia, characterized by desiccation, ulceration, and xerosis of the cornea and conjunctiva, is occasionally seen as an acute symptom in the very young who are ingesting severely deficient diets. Usually, it is foreshadowed by night blindness, which appears as the earliest ocular sign of deficiency. Ultimately, severe visual impairment and even blindness result. 

X2 Corneal xerosis Drying of the cornea, scaly appearance... 

Nutritional vitamin A deficiency causes xerophthalmia, a progressive disease characterized by night blindness, xerosis (dryness), and keratomalacia (comeal thinning), which may lead to perforation xerophthalmia may be reversed with vitamin A therapy. However, rapid, irreversible blindness ensues once the cornea perforates. Vitamin A also is involved in epithelial differentiation and may have some role in corneal epithelial wound healing. There is no evidence to support using topical vitamin A for keratoconjunctivitis sicca in the absence of a nutritional deficiency. 

Symptoms of deficiency. (1) Night blindness. (2) Conjunctival and corneal xerosis. (3) Keratomalacia ulceration and scarring of cornea that leads to loss of vision. 

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