E50.1: Vitamin A deficiency with Bitot spot and conjunctival xerosis

You have been found to have a vitamin A deficiency. The conjunctiva in your eye has dried out and been damaged due to the vitamin A deficiency.

Vitamin A is important for vision along with the skin and mucous membranes. Furthermore, you need vitamin A to regenerate particular cells such as blood cells. You can obtain vitamin A through various foods like liver, fish and green vegetables.

A vitamin A deficiency can develop when you are taking too little vitamin A via food. It is also possible that your intestines aren’t able to properly absorb vitamin A into your body because of another disease.

The transparent conjunctiva covers the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Along with the tears, the conjunctiva forms a liquid film on the eye. Together, the conjunctiva, the eyelids, and the liquid film on the eye all protect the eye from external agents. The conjunctiva also helps defend against pathogens.

If the conjunctiva is dried out and damaged, the eyes may burn and be painful and reddened. Sometimes you may also feel as though you have a foreign object in your eye. Due to the vitamin A deficiency moreover, white spots have formed on your conjunctiva. The white spots are made up of dead cells from the conjunctiva surface. If the disease has existed for many years and is not treated, you may also become blind.