E50.3: Vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis

You have been found to have a vitamin A deficiency. The cornea 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 cornea is located at the front of the eye. It is transparent and curved. The curvature focuses light in the eye. This is vital to be able to see clearly.

If the cornea 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, deep wounds have formed on your cornea. If the disease has existed for many years and is not treated, you may also become blind.