| Literature DB >> 36059339 |
Sara Bijan1, Oliver R Filutowski1, Sara Safari2.
Abstract
While vitamin A deficiency is a leading cause of blindness globally, it is uncommon in the developed world. Here we describe the unique presentation of a young man in the United States with keratomalacia from vitamin A deficiency related to pancreatic insufficiency. The patient presented with bilateral blurry vision that persisted for two weeks, significant unintentional weight loss, orthostatic hypotension, and profuse diarrhea. Upon slit-lamp examination, bilateral corneal opacities were appreciated. After completing additional testing, it became clear that the patient's corneal opacities were related to vitamin A deficiency from pancreatic insufficiency.Entities:
Keywords: cornea; corneal ulcer; keratomalacia; pancreatic insufficiency; vitamin a; xerophthalmia
Year: 2022 PMID: 36059339 PMCID: PMC9428414 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.27569
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Cureus ISSN: 2168-8184
Figure 1Bilateral corneal opacifications with sparing of the superior corneas in the distribution of the upper eyelids.
Figure 2Slit lamp photograph of the right eye on the third day of hospitalization demonstrating progression in the density of the corneal opacification with new stromal thinning.
Figure 3Slit lamp photograph of the left eye on the third day of hospitalization demonstrating central thinning with pigment staining of the cornea and a flat anterior chamber.
Figure 4Fluorescein staining of the left eye on the third day of hospitalization. A complete epithelial defect of the cornea with a central microperforation can be observed.