Xerophthalmia is one of the most common causes of blindness worldwide.

It predominantly affects children, and is estimated to cause vision loss in more than 500,000 people each year.

It leads to a gradual loss of transparency of the cornea, and is known to be linked to vitamin A deficiency. It tends to be prominent in areas of the world where the predominant staple food is white rice.

The mechanism by which vitamin A deficiency leads to the disease is unknown.

See : EyeWiki

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