Reversible colour vision defects in obstructive jaundice.
The ocular function of 14 non-alcoholic, high icteric patients with recent occlusion of the common bile duct and 3 patients with viral hepatitis with a cholestatic pattern was studied. By means of a colour vision test panel including the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test, 12 patients were initially classified as colour defective with a pattern of acquired colour vision deficiency (ACVD), predominantly of a tritan type. Visual acuity, visual field, slit lamp microscopy, intraocular pressure, ophthalmoscopy and tear secretion tests were normal, and all patients had normal levels of serum vitamin A. Retesting of 4 initially colour defective patients after disappearance of the obstructive jaundice showed a complete normalisation of the ACVD's. It is concluded, that the colour perception in patients with obstructive jaundice is related to the serum bilirubin level, and not to a deficiency of vitamin A.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood
D014801:Vitamin A; D001663:Bilirubin