Clinical Nutrition

Lesson 6: Vitamin A Deficiency

Conjunctival impression cytology

Impressions of epithelial cells are obtained from the conjunctival surface, stained and examined. In vitamin A deficiency, the epithelial cells of the conjunctiva become flattened and enlarged. There is a marked reduction in the mucin secreting goblet cells.

Presence of abnormal conjunctiva cytology in more than 20% of children examined indicates a public health problem.