title: Bilateral corneal ulceration caused by vitamin a deficiency in eosinophilic gastroenteropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin A deficiency is a very rare condition in the developed world and can lead to a variety of ocular changes from xerosis and xerophthalmia to corneal ulcer and perforation. The treatment of this devastating disease is simple and inexpensive. It is therefore important to recognize and treat accordingly, especially in the event of ulcers unresponsive to treatment or in the presence of severe malnutrition/malabsorption syndromes. The purpose of this case report is to remind physicians of the potentially devastating effects of vitamin A deficiency on the eyes and to demonstrate outcomes after vitamin A treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single observational case report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 29-year-old male with known eosinophilic gastroenteropathy was treated with oral steroids for peripheral ulcerative keratitis. Two weeks after resolution, the patient suffered from peripheral ulcerative keratitis in his other eye, with a self-sealing perforation. Vitamin A deficiency was confirmed and successfully treated, leading to subsequent resolution of signs and symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin A deficiency can be present in patients with malabsorption and malnutrition syndromes and should be considered as cause of corneal ulceration.
authors.affiliation: Eye Care Center, Cornea Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Alex P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Holland
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