Association Between Vitamin Deficiencies and Ophthalmological Conditions

Abstract

Austin Pereira,1 R Damilola Adekunle,2,* Michele Zaman,3,* Michael J Wan1 1University of Toronto Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 2Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada; 3Queen’s School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Michael J Wan, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: Vitamin deficiencies can have adverse effects on health, including on the visual system. The ocular manifestations of a vitamin deficiency are related to the underlying biochemical function of the particular nutrient. While vitamin deficiencies are not common in developed counties, they are still prevalent in parts of the developing world and in specific, vulnerable populations. Vitamin deficiencies can cause or contribute to many ophthalmological conditions and eye diseases may even be the first presenting finding of a vitamin deficiency. As such, it is important for ophthalmologists to be aware of the ocular manifestations of vitamin deficiencies, especially given that the complications can be severe and effectively treated if identified early. This review summarizes the literature on the main vitamins known to have characteristic ocular manifestations: vitamins A, B1, B2, B9, B12, C, D, E and K. The function, epidemiology, manifestations, workup, and management of each vitamin is discussed in detail.Keywords: vitamin A deficiency, vitamin B deficiency, vitamin C deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, vitamin E deficiency, vitamin K deficiency

Keywords

• vitamin a deficiency
• vitamin b deficiency
• vitamin c deficiency
• vitamin d deficiency
• vitamin e deficiency
• vitamin k deficiency