Fundus white spots and acquired night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency.

Abstract

To report a successfully treated case of acquired night blindness associated with fundus white spots secondary to vitamin A deficiency. An ocular examination, electrophysiologic testing, as well as visual field and OCT examinations were obtained on a 61-year-old man with vitamin A deficiency who had previously undergone gastric bypass surgery. The patient had a re-evaluation after treatment with high doses of oral vitamin A. The patient was observed to have numerous white spots in the retina of each eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was initially 20/80 in each eye, which improved to 20/40-1 OU after oral vitamin A therapy for 2 months. Full field electroretinogram (ERG) testing, showed non-detectable rod function and a 34 and 41% reduction for 32-Hz flicker and single flash cone responses, respectively, below the lower limits of normal. Both rod and cone functions markedly improved after initiation of vitamin A therapy. Vitamin A deficiency needs to be considered in a patient with white spots of the retina in the presence of poor night vision.

• Authors: Mohamed A Genead, Gerald A Fishman, Martin Lindeman
• Journal: Documenta ophthalmologica. Advances in ophthalmology (Doc Ophthalmol) Vol. 119 Issue 3 Pg. 229-33 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1573-2622 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19809843 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Vitamins
• Vitamin A

Topics

• Color
• Dark Adaptation (drug effects)
• Electroretinography
• Fundus Oculi
• Gastric Bypass
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Night Blindness (drug therapy, etiology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Postoperative Complications
• Retina (drug effects, pathology, physiopathology)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Visual Acuity (drug effects)
• Vitamin A (administration & dosage)
• Vitamin A Deficiency (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Vitamins (administration & dosage)