Markedly Delayed Night Blindness Due to Vitamin A Insufficiency Secondary to Bowel Resection

Background

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin absorbed by the small intestine either as retinol or carotene, depending on the dietary source. Carotene is converted to retinol which is then esterified to retinyl palmitate and stored in the liver where it is available for metabolic requirements. Vitamin A is mandatory for vision, being the chromophore of visual pigments. Vitamin A combines with the opsins in rods and cones and mediates the transformation of photic energy into electrochemical messages [1], [2].

Publication History

Received: 25 September 2020

Accepted: 29 December 2020

Article published online:
22 February 2021

• References

• 1 Harrison EH. Mechanisms of transport and delivery of vitamin A and carotenoids to the retinal pigment epithelium. Mol Nutr Food Res 2019; 63: e1801046
• 2 Smith J, Steinemann TL. Vitamin A deficiency and the eye. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2000; 40: 83-91
• 3 Lee WB, Hamilton SM, Harris JP. et al. Ocular complications of hypovitaminosis a after bariatric surgery. Ophthalmology 2005; 112: 1031-1034
• 4 Kemp CM, Jacobson SG, Borruat FX. et al. Rhodopsin levels and retinal function in cats during recovery from vitamin A deficiency. Exp Eye Res 1989; 49: 49-65
• 5 Pitchon E, Sahli O, Borruat FX. Night blindness, yellow vision, and yellow skin: symptoms and signs of malabsorption. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2006; 223: 443-446
• 6 Perlman I, Barzilai D, Haim T. et al. Night vision in a case of vitamin A deficiency due to malabsorption. Br J Ophthalmol 1983; 67: 37-42
• 7 Spits Y, De Laey JJ, Leroy BP. Rapid recovery of night blindness due to obesity surgery after vitamin A repletion therapy. Br J Ophthalmol 2004; 88: 583-585
• 8 McBain VA, Egan CA, Pieris SJ. et al. Functional observations in vitamin A deficiency: diagnosis and time course of recovery. Eye (Lond) 2007; 21: 367-376
• 9 Cheshire J, Kolli S. Vitamin A deficiency due to chronic malabsorption: an ophthalmic manifestation of a systemic condition. BMJ Case Rep 2017; 2017: bcr2017220024
• 10 Sommer A. Vitamin A deficiency and its consequences: a field guide to detection and control. 3rd ed.. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1995. Accessed January 29, 2021 at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/40535