Vision Loss in a Healthy Child: A Case of Vitamin A Deficiency

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is common in developing countries but rare in resource-rich countries. In developed countries, malabsorption and behavioral issues are more common reasons for VAD. The current case is an example of a healthy child who developed ocular symptoms due to vitamin A deficiency in the setting of cultural influences and emotional stressors.

Nutritional blindness from avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder – recommendations for the early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of children at risk from restrictive eating

“…Irreversible sight loss may affect CYP with ARFID after a variable period of restrictive eating, because they do not consume identical diets, and their nutritional demands vary with age, gender and activity. Two recent case reports described children presenting with nutritional blindness from restricted diets, who improved with prompt treatment 19 20. However, these cases are rare.…”