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Outer retina changes on optical coherence tomography in vitamin A deficiency
Meghan K Berkenstock1, Charles J Castoro1, Andrew R Carey1
1Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Woods 459A, Baltimore, MD 21287 USA.
International Journal of Retina and Vitreous
|June 11, 2020
Summary
Severe Vitamin A deficiency can cause vision problems and outer retinal changes, detectable by SD-OCT. These changes are reversible with timely vitamin A supplementation, improving vision and night blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency is uncommon in the US and often overlooked in malabsorption cases.
- Ocular manifestations include xerosis, nyctalopia, and reduced visual/color acuity.
Observation:
- Two patients with nyctalopia showed unique outer retinal changes on spectral domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
- Findings included diffuse thinning of the outer nuclear layer and irregular interdigitating and ellipsoid zones.
Findings:
- SD-OCT revealed outer nuclear layer thinning and disrupted outer retinal bands in vitamin A deficiency.
- These outer retinal changes were reversible following vitamin A supplementation.
Implications:
- SD-OCT can identify outer retinal changes associated with vitamin A deficiency.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of vitamin A deficiency can reverse ocular complications and restore vision.
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