Visual deterioration caused by vitamin A deficiency in patients after bariatric surgery

Eat Weight Disord. 2012 Jun;17(2):e144-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03325340.

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) after bariatric surgery is recognised as a significant post-operative complication that can lead to visual impairment. We report two cases of night blindness and visual impairment caused by VAD after malabsorptive bariatric surgery. Both patients were treated with intramuscular vitamin A replacement and made near complete recovery in their vision. Ocular complications due to VAD should be diagnosed and treated promptly in patients after bariatric surgery because these complications are reversible.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Atrophy / etiology
  • Bariatric Surgery / adverse effects*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Gastric Bypass / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Jejunoileal Bypass / adverse effects
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / complications
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Night Blindness / etiology*
  • Night Blindness / physiopathology
  • Obesity, Morbid / surgery
  • Optic Nerve / pathology
  • Time Factors
  • Vision, Low / etiology*
  • Vision, Low / physiopathology
  • Vision, Ocular
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / complications*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / diagnosis*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / etiology
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin A