title: Fundus white spots and acquired night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (MC 648), University of Illinois at Chicago, Room 3.85, Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1855 W Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612-7234, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Genead
authors.forename: Gerald A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindeman
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D003623:Dark Adaptation / Q000187:drug effects; D004596:Electroretinography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A