Keratomalacia can be linked to lower socioeconomic status, poor maternal nutrition, and inadequate breastfeeding, according to a paper in the journal Cornea.

Dr Noopur Gupta et al., Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, studied the case records of children under 6 months of aged suffering from keratomalacia from June 2007 to April 2010.

Parameters assessed included age, sex, anthropometry, nutritional status, socioeconomic status, antenatal history, maternal nutrition, systemic associations, immunization and dietary history. Comprehensive ocular examination was completed and consisted of ocular adnexa, conjunctiva, cornea and anterior chamber.

Of the children included in the study, 88% had protein energy-associated malnutrition, 94% belonged to poor families and 75% were not sufficiently immunized. In 100% of keratomalacia patients, inadequate breastfeeding was the main cause.