Question

Xerophthalmia is a clinical symptom associated with deficiency of -

• A. Vitamin C
• B. Vitamin \(\text{B}_6\)
• C. Vitamin A
• D. Vitamin D

Hint:

To memorize Vitamin A milestones:
Vitamin A \(\rightarrow\) Retinol \(\rightarrow\) Vision \(\rightarrow\) Deficiency leads to Night Blindness \(\rightarrow\) Xerophthalmia \(\rightarrow\) Keratomalacia (softening of the cornea).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Vitamins are organic micronutrients essential for regulating metabolic pathways, cellular growth, and specialized physiological functions.
A prolonged deficiency of any vitamin leads to characteristic, clinically definable deficiency syndromes.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Xerophthalmia is a progressive, serious eye disease caused by severe, chronic Vitamin A (retinol) deficiency.
Vitamin A is essential for maintaining the integrity of epithelial tissues and is a component of rhodopsin (the visual pigment in the retina).
Under deficiency conditions:
1. The lacrimal glands fail to produce tears, leading to extreme dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea (xerosis).
2. Night blindness (nyctalopia) develops.
3. If untreated, it progresses to Bitot's spots, corneal ulceration, and eventually permanent blindness (keratomalacia).

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, xerophthalmia is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin A, which corresponds to option (C).