Risk Factors For Xerophthalmia

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the name for the poor liver function and severe liver scarring seen at chronic liver disease's terminal stages. The scarring is generally frequently caused by long-term exposure to toxins such as alcohol or viral infections. Located in the upper right of an individual's abdomen below the ribs, the liver processes many essential bodily functions. Some of these are the creation of proteins to clot blood, purification of blood by the removal of toxins such as bacteria and alcohol from the system, storage of sugar and vitamins for the body's later use, and production of bile. Bile works to help the body absorb such substances as cholesterol, dietary fats, and vitamins A, D and E, and K. Cirrhosis, according to the National Institutes of Health, is the twelfth leading cause of disease-caused death in the United States. Along with its other complications, cirrhosis often carries with it alcohol-induced malnutrition, which the ocular manifestations of xerophthalmia are secondary to.

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Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a genetic immune disease in which patients cannot eat gluten because of the damage it will do to the small intestine. Individuals who have celiac disease and eat gluten discover their immune systems respond by damage to the small intestine. Gluten is found in rye, wheat, and barley. Beyond baked goods, it may also be present in other products like products for the hair and skin, toothpaste, lip balms, and vitamins and supplements. This disease affects various individuals differently. Symptoms may strike in the digestive system or in other body parts. One patient might experience diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another may present with irritability and depression. Some celiac disease patients have no symptoms whatsoever. This disease may strike the vision because of the complications it produces in absorbing vitamin A, leading to xerophthalmia, or the autoimmune attack known as Sjögren's syndrome.

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