Xerophthalmia

Xerophthalmia is a medical condition in which the eye fails to produce tears. It may be caused by a deficiency in vitamin A and is sometimes used to describe that lack, although there may be other causes.Xerophthalmia is a term that usually implies a destructive dryness of the conjunctival epithelium due to dietary vitamin A deficiency — a rare condition in developed countries, but still causing much damage in developing countries. Other forms of dry eye are associated with aging, poor lid closure, scarring from previous injury, or autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and these can all cause chronic conjunctivitis.Xerophthalmia can be associated with systemic diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, and hypothyroidism; deficiency of vitamin A; and the use of some medications including antihistamines, nasal decongestants, tranquilizers, and anti-depressant drugs. Xerophthalmia results from inadequate function of the lacrimal glands which produce tears. When xerophthalmia is due to vitamin A deficiency, the condition begins with night blindness and conjunctival xerosis and progresses to corneal xerosis , and, in the late stages, to keratomalacia .The treatment depends on the cause. Artificial tears, which lubricate the eye, are the principal symptomatic treatment for dry eye. They are available over-the-counter as eye drops. Using humidifiers, wearing wrap-around glasses when outside, and avoiding outside windy and dry conditions may bring relief. For people with severe cases of dry eye, temporary or permanent closure of the tear drain may be helpful. Also known as conjunctivitis arida. (From the Wikpedia article Xerophthalmia.)

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Recent Publications on Xerophthalmia:
Atypical Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 3 Overlapped by Chronic HCV Infection Resulting in Carcinogenesis and Fatal Infection. The case of a woman with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, autoimmune...	27th June, 2008	From the Department of Internal Medicine, "Hippokration" General Hospital,	South Med J. 2008 Jun 14;. DOI Direct Link
Clinical significance of anti-Ro antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of our study was to determine the frequency of anti-Ro...	18th June, 2008	Rheumatology, Instituto de Rehabilitacion Psicofisica, Echeverria 955,	Clin Rheumatol. 2008 Apr;27(4):517-9. Epub 2008 Jan 8. DOI Direct Link
Antecedent risk factors of xerophthalmia among Indian rural preschool children. PURPOSE: To determine the risk factors of xerophthalmia among preschool...	5th June, 2008	Department of Community Medicine, Sikkim-Manipal Institute of Medical	Eye Contact Lens. 2008 Mar;34(2):106-8. DOI Direct Link
Celiac disease presenting as a xerophthalmic fundus. BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the three major...	14th May, 2008	Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon	Retina. 2008 Mar;28(3):525-6. DOI Direct Link
Vitamin A deficiency and child feeding in Beijing and Guizhou, China. BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the three major...	9th May, 2008	National Center for Women's and Children's Health, Beijing, China.	World J Pediatr. 2008 Feb;4(1):20-5.
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Xerophthalmia Clinical Trials:
Safety and Efficacy of Pimecrolimus Ophthalmic Suspension in Patients With Moderate to Severe Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca	Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
Immune Responses to Antigens in Non-Infectious Eye Inflammatory Diseases	Eye Diseases
Mycophenolate Sodium Treatment in Patients With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome	Primary Sjogren's Syndrome
Newborn Vitamin A (VA) Supplementation Pilot Project, Pakistan	Vitamin A Deficiency;   Mortality
Cyclosporine Implant for Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease	Graft vs Host Disease
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Xerophthalmia Patents:
US Patent No.	Title
6218423	Pyrrolidine derivatives for vision and memory disorders
6410289	Isolated human dehydrogenases, nucleic acid molecules encoding these human dehydrogenases, and uses thereof
6468737	Identification of a novel retrovirus associated with primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune disorders
6468998	Pyrrolidine compounds and medicinal utilization thereof
6476039	Ophthalmic composition
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