Vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia: A modern disease
| Sunday, November 3, 2024 |
| 1:30 PM - 1:40 PM |
| Panorama Rooms 2 & 3 |
Overview
Nadine McArthur
Speaker
Mrs Nadine McArthur
SeeWay
Vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia: A modern disease
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) (2009) defines Vitamin-A deficiency (VAD) as an inadequate dietary intake of Vitamin-A for an individual’s physiological requirements and states VAD is a public health problem in greater than 50% of the world, especially through South-East Asia and Africa. Sherwin et al. (2012) report that VAD is a leading cause of preventable blindness with VAD causing Xerophthalmia. Hodge and Taylor (2024) report that most Vitamin-A deficiency cases occur in developing countries in children sub 5 years of age. Children are at higher risk of Xerophthalmia, because of their greater Vitamin-A requirements for growth.
In developed countries malnutrition is not a widespread problem. Hodge and Taylor (2024) report, in developed countries, VAD is usually secondary to diseases of malabsorption caused by modern diseases or in people with restrictive diets eg: children with Autism. Cermak et al (2010), report children with Autism are known to have an increased incidence of restrictive diets.
We report a case of VAD in a 10 year old Australian child, under the care of health care professionals, with a restrictive diet due to sensory issues caused by Autism.
VAD is often not thought of cause of vision loss in Australia and this case example highlights the need for health care professionals to consider VAD as a possible etiology for vision loss in patients with comorbidities of malabsorption in developed countries. Children with restrictive diets, should undergo regular nutritional review and be under the care of an ophthalmologist for review of Xeropthalmia.
In developed countries malnutrition is not a widespread problem. Hodge and Taylor (2024) report, in developed countries, VAD is usually secondary to diseases of malabsorption caused by modern diseases or in people with restrictive diets eg: children with Autism. Cermak et al (2010), report children with Autism are known to have an increased incidence of restrictive diets.
We report a case of VAD in a 10 year old Australian child, under the care of health care professionals, with a restrictive diet due to sensory issues caused by Autism.
VAD is often not thought of cause of vision loss in Australia and this case example highlights the need for health care professionals to consider VAD as a possible etiology for vision loss in patients with comorbidities of malabsorption in developed countries. Children with restrictive diets, should undergo regular nutritional review and be under the care of an ophthalmologist for review of Xeropthalmia.
Biography
Nadine is a Sydney-trained Orthoptist. Following graduation, she commenced full-time work in the mid ‘90s at the Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (now Next Sense). Here she developed a passion for low vision and bringing eye health knowledge to the public in general. Over her career she has worked for medical device companies, launching new technologies for eye care to the ANZ market for both consumers and eye care professionals. Additionally, she has led professional affairs optometry teams, marketing teams and oversaw the development and delivery of education / cpd events across the eye care industry.
Nadine holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Orthoptics), Bachelor of Business (Marketing) Graduate Diploma in Science and is due to complete her Masters in Public Health this semester.
In 2023, Nadine joined the client services team at Guide Dogs, re-connecting with her passion for low vision and more recently took on the role of Marketing Manager at Guide Dogs, to support the expansion of reach of low vision services to people who are newly diagnosed with permanent loss of sight, in the early to moderate category. Nadine has a keen interest in public health and the provision of high-quality services for people with low vision.
