Question:easy
A patient presented with dryness in eye with a gritty sensation along with corneal softening. What is the most probable cause?
A patient presented with dryness in eye with a gritty sensation along with corneal softening. What is the most probable cause?
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Think about which fat-soluble vitamin is essential for maintaining conjunctival goblet cells and corneal epithelial integrity.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Riboflavin Deficiency
- Viral Keratitis
- Follicular conjunctivitis
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Vitamin A Deficiency -- Ocular Manifestations:
Vitamin A (retinol) is a fat-soluble vitamin critical for:
1. Rhodopsin synthesis (night vision)
2. Epithelial differentiation and mucus secretion
Sequence of ocular features in Vitamin A deficiency:
\[\text{Night blindness} \rightarrow \text{Conjunctival xerosis} \rightarrow \text{Bitot's spots} \rightarrow \text{Corneal xerosis} \rightarrow \text{Keratomalacia} \rightarrow \text{Blindness}\]
- Xerophthalmia (dry eye) = loss of goblet cell mucus secretion due to squamous metaplasia of conjunctival epithelium.
- Keratomalacia = corneal softening and liquefaction; a blinding emergency.
This patient has dry eye + gritty sensation + corneal softening -- a textbook presentation of advanced Vitamin A deficiency (xerophthalmia + keratomalacia).
Riboflavin deficiency does NOT cause xerophthalmia; it causes corneal vascularization. Viral keratitis presents with a painful, dendritic corneal ulcer.
Answer: \[\boxed{\text{Vitamin A Deficiency}}\]
Vitamin A (retinol) is a fat-soluble vitamin critical for:
1. Rhodopsin synthesis (night vision)
2. Epithelial differentiation and mucus secretion
Sequence of ocular features in Vitamin A deficiency:
\[\text{Night blindness} \rightarrow \text{Conjunctival xerosis} \rightarrow \text{Bitot's spots} \rightarrow \text{Corneal xerosis} \rightarrow \text{Keratomalacia} \rightarrow \text{Blindness}\]
- Xerophthalmia (dry eye) = loss of goblet cell mucus secretion due to squamous metaplasia of conjunctival epithelium.
- Keratomalacia = corneal softening and liquefaction; a blinding emergency.
This patient has dry eye + gritty sensation + corneal softening -- a textbook presentation of advanced Vitamin A deficiency (xerophthalmia + keratomalacia).
Riboflavin deficiency does NOT cause xerophthalmia; it causes corneal vascularization. Viral keratitis presents with a painful, dendritic corneal ulcer.
Answer: \[\boxed{\text{Vitamin A Deficiency}}\]
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