Acta Ophthalmologica 1964. [antikvár]

Acta Ophthalmologica Vol. 42 1964 From the Institute of Ophthalmology, Aligarh University, India NUTRITIONAL LESIONS OF THE EXTERNAL EYE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO PLASMA LEVELS OF VITAMIN A AND THE LIGHT THRESHOLDS BY F. C. Rodger, H. Saiduzzafar, A. D. Grover and A. Fazal Vitamin A deficiency (xerophthalmia and keratomalacia) has been designated as one of the four most common causes of blindness in eastern Asia (Mori, 1904 and Wright, 1922). We felt it important, therefore, to investigate all the possible ocular variations of vitamin A deficiencies, relating each to the light thresholds and blood levels of vitamin A and the carotenoids, especially as there is so little information of this nature in the literature. Our study of the lesion known as 'Bitot's spot' produced little evidence that it was related to vitamin A deficiency and has been published separately (Rodger, Saiduzzafar, Grover and Fazal, 1963.) METHODS (1) Selection Ambulant cases were preselected for the greater part at the Reception Desks of the Gandhi Eye Hospitál."'"' Patients exhibiting any of the following signs were referred to the authors in the adjacent Institute of Ophthalmology for further study: i. Wrinkles or folds, pigmentation of unusual distribution, loss of lustre or dryness, bubbles or viscous tear secretion in the external eye. ii. Dryness with or without polyhedral opacities of the cornea after exclusion of such obvious conditions as trachoma. iii. Corneal facets or ulcers with or without iris prolapse. iv. Partial or totál necrosis of the cornea. v. Complaints of night blindness associated with healthy eyes or with any of the above signs.