The importance of good nutrition becomes all too apparent, when one becomes aware of a case, such as the following one. This lady’s diet, if continued, would have caused her many future health problems.

“This case concerns a  26 year old woman who presented in the eye- casualty department in the North East of England, with gradual painless loss of vision, over a period of 6 weeks. Prior to this her vision had been normal.

She was found to have bilateral central retinal vein occlusion with significant anaemia and vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Patients who develop central retinal vein occlusion are typically over 65 years of age and it is a common cause of visual morbidity .

There is an increased incidence of central retinal vein occlusion in people with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, collagen vascular diseases and hyperviscosity syndromes, with smoking and contraceptive pill use being additional risk factors. When young patients develop a central retinal vein occlusion it is important to obtain a detailed nutritional history, as is shown by this case.

Apart from the painless loss of vision over a period of 6 weeks, the only other symptoms she had were occasional headaches, and  more recently increased breathlessness on exertion. She was overweight, was a non smoker, and a weekend drinker.

vitamins for wellness

Blood film showed a megaloblastic anaemia with nucleated red cells, macrocytosis and hypersegmented neutrophils. Absolute reticulocyte count was not raised. Low levels of folate and vitamin B12 were confirmed on serum testing (folate: 1 ng/ml, vitamin B12: 54 ng/l).

On further closer questioning it was found that the patient had not eaten vegetables for several years and lived on a diet involving a processed corn snack, chips and fast food chain meals. She explained that she did not like the taste of vegetables and dairy products.

She was given folic acid, hydroxycobalamin and iron supplementation. She was referred to a dietitian and advised on a healthier diet. Visual acuity improved to (Snellen chart) 6/12 on the right and 6/12 on the left over the subsequent months. Her haemoglobin levels returned to normal over the subsequent months”.

Reference:

Malnutrition and bilateral central retinal vein occlusion in a young woman: a case report
Mark Tauber, Timothy C Dowd, and Angela Wood.
Specialist Registrar in Palliative Medicine, Morriston Hospital, Swansea NHS Trust, Swansea, SA6 6NL, UK
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Department of Ophthalmology, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, UK
Consultant Haematologist, Department of Haematology, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, UK

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:77doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-7


http://www.gerson.org/Programs/monthlyprogram.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/nutrition/ http://www.naturalnews.com/ http://www.mercola.com/


vitamin B12 deficiency causing loss of vision
vitamin B12 deficiency causing loss of vision


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