Conjunctival impression cytology in xerophthalmia among rural children.

The advent of Conjunctival Impression Cytology (CIC) has opened a new chapter in the detection of Vitamin A deficiency as it is a simplified field technique. The need for such a technique was of paramount importance in India where as estimated 5 to 7 percent children suffer from eye signs of Vitamin A deficiency. In the present study the results of clinical evaluation of apparently healthy children and those having clinical sings and symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency have been compared with CIC results. Serum Vitamin A levels have also been estimated wherever possible. The findings indicate that CIC results are superior to the clinical assessment and it is suggested that CIC can be used as screening tool for children of school going age (and earlier) for early detection and correction of Vitamin A deficiency.