Ocular manifestations of vitamin A deficiency in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disease

To characterize clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and/or hepatobiliary comorbidities.

This retrospective study examined patients with GI or hepatobiliary disease who presented with ocular manifestations of VAD. Extracted data included patient demographics, underlying GI or hepatobiliary diagnoses, serum vitamin A levels, ophthalmic symptoms and examination findings, imaging features, and response to vitamin A repletion.

26 eyes from 13 patients were included. The most common systemic comorbidities were fatty liver disease (38.5%), prior gastric bypass surgery (23.1%), and cirrhosis (23.1%). Median serum vitamin A level at diagnosis was 19.1 mcg/dL (range, 2.5-36.1 mcg/dL, reference range 38-72 mcg/dL). Median presenting best visual corrected acuity (BCVA) was 20/50 (logmar 0.44, range, 20/20-light perception). Twenty-two eyes (84.6%) demonstrated anterior segment manifestations of VAD, including four eyes (15.4%) who presented with bilateral corneal ulceration and perforation. Posterior segment findings were present in 16 eyes (61.5%), including subretinal drusenoid deposits, RPE mottling, placoid macular changes, optic neuropathy, and a full-thickness macular hole. All patients reported bilateral vision loss, with 63.6% endorsing nyctalopia. All patients who underwent vitamin A repletion experienced subjective visual improvement and partial or complete resolution of ophthalmic findings, including regression of anterior and posterior segment pathology.

Vitamin A deficiency occurs across a wide spectrum of GI and hepatobiliary diseases and is associated with diverse anterior and posterior segment ocular findings, ranging from subtle surface disease to severe, vision-threatening pathology. Visual symptoms and ocular findings improved following vitamin A repletion, highlighting the preventable and reversible nature of this condition when identified early. Given the risk of irreversible ocular sequelae with delayed diagnosis, serum vitamin A assessment with timely repletion should be considered in patients with at-risk gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions. Early identification through multidisciplinary care may prevent avoidable, vision-threatening ocular complications.