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Keratomalacia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Keratomalacia

What is Keratomalacia

Keratomalacia is an eye condition in which the cornea, the front part of the eye, becomes soft and cloudy. Usually both eyes are affect in this. This eye disease often begins as xerophthalmia, characterized by severe dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva.

The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the front part of your eye ball. Once the conjunctiva dries out, it becomes thicker and wrinkled.

If this eye disorder is left or untreat, softening of the cornea can lead to infection, rupture, and tissue changes, leading to blindness. Keratomalacia problem is also know as other name is xerotic keratitis and corneal melting.

Keratomalacia

Keratomalacia Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Keratomalacia include:

  • Night blindness or difficulty seeing in dim or low light
  • Eye dryness
  • Blurriness

Click here to read more about pink eye ( conjunctivitis)

Causes of Keratomalacia

Keratomalacia is generally occurs and cause by a deficiency of vitamin A. However, it is not yet clear whether this condition is cause by a lack of vitamin A in the diet or due to inability to absorb vitamin A.

This eye disorder can affect one or both eyes. It usually occurs in developing countries, where the diet of the population is deficient in vitamin A or protein, as well as calorie deficit.

Diagnosis of Keratomalacia

In diagnosing Keratomalacia, the doctor may do eye exams and blood tests to detect vitamin A deficiency. Also this eye disease can be diagnosing using electroretinography. Electroretinography (ERG) is also know as electroretinogram. It is a diagnostic test that measures the electrical response of cells sensitive to light.

The following laboratory tests and procedures are use to diagnose of this eye disease:

  • Diagnostic evaluation to diagnose Keratomalacia
  • Assessing Beta Carotene Levels: To Make a Diagnosis for Keratomalacia
  • Vitamin A Level Evaluation: To Make a Diagnosis for Keratomalacia
  • Eye exam: to evaluate the outward appearance of the eyes, visual acuity, eye movements, and visual fields
  • Slit lamp exam: to see the conjunctivae, corneas, and other areas of the eye
Keratomalacia

Treatment of Keratomalacia

Yes, it is possible to prevent Keratomalacia. Prevention of this disease may be effectively possible by doing the following things:

  1. Sour citrus fruit
  2. Vitamin A Supplements

Keratomalacia Risk Factor

People who are at the higher risk of developing Keratomalacia are dividing into two groups: first, people who are deficient in vitamin A in their diet and second, people who can’t absorb vitamin A in their diet. Huh:

People who consume small amounts of vitamin A include:

  • Infants and young children who are struggling financially
  • Those People, especially children, who are malnourished
  • People, especially children, who live in developing countries

People who have difficulty absorbing vitamin A include:

  • Those type of People who drink excessively
  • People with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
  • Those People who suffer with liver disease
  • People with cystic fibrosis

Self Care

  • The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help with the treatment or management of this disease:
  • Eat a balanced diet: Adequate protein and vitamin A or carotene diets can help prevent vitamin A deficiency.
  • Consuming vitamin A-rich foods: Help prevent vitamin A deficiency in children at risk of Keratomalacia

Alternative Medicine for the Treatment

  • The following alternative medicine and remedies are know to help treat or manage this disease
  • Uses of Vitamin A supplementation: for individuals with impaired vitamin A absorption, storage, or transport
  • Vitamin A within alternative formulas: Helps prevent vitamin A deficiency in children

Patient Support for the Treatment

Those Patients who suffering with this disease may be help by the following actions:

Join online support groups: Helps provide emotional support to children and adults living with the disease