'antixerophthalmic' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek/Latin via Modern English, meaning 'against') combined with 'xerophthalmic', where 'xero-' comes from Greek 'xēros' meaning 'dry' and 'ophthalmic' from Greek 'ophthalmos' meaning 'eye'.

'xerophthalmic' derives from Greek elements 'xēros' + 'ophthalmos' -> medical Latin/modern New Latin 'xerophthalmia' (dryness of the eye) -> adjective 'xerophthalmic'; adding the prefix 'anti-' produced 'antixerophthalmic' in Modern English to denote action against that condition.

Initially, the components referred specifically to 'dry' and 'eye'; combined as 'xerophthalmic' they named the dry-eye condition, and with 'anti-' the combined form has meant 'against dry eye' (a meaning that has remained specialized and medical).