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

Doc Ophthalmol. 2009 Dec;119(3):229-33. doi: 10.1007/s10633-009-9200-y. Epub 2009 Oct 7.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin A