Final answer:
Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea due to a lack of moisture, and it can lead to serious issues like corneal scarring and blindness if not treated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that best means the inflammation of the cornea due to a lack of moisture is keratitis. Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, which can lead to symptoms such as irritation, excess tears, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and if left untreated, it can progress to corneal scarring and potentially blindness. Factors such as bacteria, viruses, pollutants, or allergens can cause inflammation in various structures of the eye. Specifically, viruses like the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) can spread to the eye and cause a form of keratitis known as herpes keratitis or herpetic keratitis, which involves the cornea and can be quite serious.