Bitot's spots

System: General & Eye–Ear Signs · All general & eye–ear signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

Foamy, whitish, slightly raised patches on the white of the eye near the cornea, made of keratin debris.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with vitamin A deficiency, an important preventable cause of blindness worldwide.

◈ Behind the name

Pierre Bitot (1822–1888), French physician and anatomist.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.