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Which symptoms are associated with vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia?

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USDA MyPlate dietary guidelines — human nutrition MyPlate, a revised set of dietary guidelines introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2011, divides the four basic food groups (fruits, grains, protein, and vegetables) into sections on a plate, the size of each section representing the relative dietary proportions of each food group. The small blue circle shown at the upper right illustrates the inclusion and recommended proportion of dairy products in the diet.

Vitamin A deficiency is a nutritional disorder that impairs essential biological functions, including vision, immunity, and cell differentiation. Xerophthalmia is a specific condition characterized by a dry, thickened, and lusterless state of the eyeball, resulting from severe vitamin A deficiency.12

Symptoms associated with these conditions include:

Visual Impairment: The earliest sign is often night blindness, caused by an inability to adapt to darkness due to low levels of 11-cis retinaldehyde.1
Ocular Changes: Patients may experience dryness of the conjunctiva (xerosis), the development of small white patches known as Bitot’s spots, and in severe cases, corneal ulcers and necrosis (keratomalacia).1
Dermatological Effects: Deficiency often leads to hyperkeratotic skin lesions, which involve increased keratinization of the epithelium.1
Systemic Issues: Because vitamin A is vital for maintaining body surface linings and immune system function, deficiency can lead to poor wound healing and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.13