Dr. Y. Jennifer Nane, Dr. (Miss) Mitali Borooah, Dr. Jawahar Jyoti Kuli, Dr. Hendge Ramchandra Dattatray
Xerophthalmia refers to the spectrum of ocular manifestations such as structural changes of conjunctiva and cornea and biophysical disorder of retinal rods and cones.
Case report:A 12 years old male complaint of gradual painless diminution of vision associated with continuous dull pain and redness in right eye for the last 1 month.He also complaint of defective night vision for the last 6 months.The conjunctiva of right eye has ciliary and conjunctival congestion and cornea has 4x4mm paracentral,dry looking greyish white lesion at 6 to 7 o’clock position.There are bitot’s spots on left eye nasally and temporally.On investigation,TBUT and schirmer I test are normal in right eye and reduced in left eye.He is treated with vitamin A supplementation,frequent artificial tear substitutes,eye drops atropine 1% and gatifloxacin both eye.
Discussion:xerophthalmia is widely recognised as the leading cause of childhood blindness in developing countries,most common in pre-school children.