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Hypovitaminosis A in metropolitan Adelaide
Author(s) -
Qureshi Salmaan H,
SelvaNayagam Dinesh N,
Crompton John L
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-9071.2000.00228.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hypovitaminosis , malabsorption , vitamin a deficiency , habit , vitamin , ophthalmology , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , retinol , psychology , psychotherapist
Hypovitaminosis A is a well‐recognized condition in many developing countries. However, in the developed world the diagnosis is frequently missed or delayed because of its rarity. A 67‐year‐old man from metropolitan Adelaide presented to us with gradual but severe bilateral visual loss. He had marked punctate epithelial keratopathy in both eyes. Hypovitaminosis was suspected because of his bizarre dietary habit, and this was confirmed by a combination of impression cytology of the ocular surface and biochemical testing of his venous blood. His vision responded dramatically to vitamin A supplementation. Hypovitaminosis A should be suspected in severe cases of ‘dry‐eye’, especially in those patients with unusual dietary habit or malabsorption.