A 33-month-old boy developed serious eye problems that doctors initially misdiagnosed. It turned out he had vitamin A deficiency, a condition where the body doesn’t have enough of an important vitamin needed for healthy eyes. After doctors discovered the problem through blood tests and gave him vitamin A treatment, his eye swelling and redness improved. However, he developed a scar on his eye and needs special treatment to help his vision develop properly. This case shows how important vitamin A is for eye health, especially in young children, and why getting the right diagnosis quickly matters.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: A single case of a young child whose eyes became swollen, red, and sensitive to light due to not having enough vitamin A in his body
  • Who participated: One boy who was 33 months old (about 2 years and 9 months) and was previously healthy before developing eye problems
  • Key finding: Blood tests confirmed the boy had vitamin A deficiency, which was causing his eye problems. After receiving vitamin A treatment, his eye swelling and redness improved, though he developed a permanent scar on his cornea (the clear front part of the eye)
  • What it means for you: This case reminds parents and doctors that vitamin A deficiency can cause serious eye damage in children. If a child has persistent eye redness, swelling, or light sensitivity, vitamin A deficiency should be considered as a possible cause, especially if the child has poor nutrition. Early detection and treatment are important to prevent permanent vision problems.

The Research Details

This is a case report, which means doctors are sharing the story of one patient’s experience with a health condition. The doctors treated a 33-month-old boy who came to them with eye problems that had lasted about one month. His eyes were swollen, red, and very sensitive to light. The doctors initially thought the problem might be something else, but after several visits and tests, they ordered a blood test to measure vitamin A levels. The blood test confirmed that the boy had vitamin A deficiency—meaning his body didn’t have enough of this essential vitamin.

Once doctors identified the real problem, they gave the boy vitamin A treatment. The doctors then followed his progress over time to see how he responded to the treatment. They documented what happened to his eyes and his overall health as he received care.

Case reports are valuable because they describe real patient experiences and can alert doctors to conditions they might otherwise miss. This case is important because it shows how vitamin A deficiency can cause serious eye damage in young children, and it demonstrates why doctors should think about this condition when a child has unexplained eye problems. The case also highlights how misdiagnosis can delay proper treatment, which can lead to permanent damage.

This is a single case report, so it describes what happened to one child rather than many children. While case reports are useful for raising awareness about rare or overlooked conditions, they cannot prove that something will happen to everyone with the same problem. The strength of this report is that doctors confirmed vitamin A deficiency with a blood test, which is objective evidence. However, because it’s just one case, we cannot know how common this problem is or how it might affect other children differently.

What the Results Show

The 33-month-old boy presented with bilateral eye swelling, redness, and extreme sensitivity to light that had been present for one month. His condition had been misdiagnosed multiple times before the correct diagnosis was made. Blood tests confirmed that he had vitamin A deficiency—his serum vitamin A level was abnormally low. After the doctors started treating him with vitamin A supplements, his eye swelling and redness improved significantly, showing that the vitamin A deficiency was indeed the cause of his eye problems.

However, despite the improvement with treatment, the boy developed a corneal scar—a permanent mark on the clear front part of his eye. This scar likely formed during the time when his eyes were severely inflamed and before he received proper treatment. The scar can affect how light enters the eye and may impact vision quality.

Because of the corneal scar that developed, the boy is now undergoing amblyopia treatment. Amblyopia, sometimes called ’lazy eye,’ is a condition where one or both eyes don’t develop normal vision. This can happen when the eye is damaged or when the brain doesn’t receive clear images from the eye. The boy’s treatment aims to help his vision develop as normally as possible despite the scar.

Vitamin A deficiency is a known cause of eye disease, particularly in developing countries where malnutrition is more common. This case is consistent with medical literature showing that severe vitamin A deficiency can cause corneal scarring and vision problems. However, vitamin A deficiency is less commonly seen in developed countries, which may explain why it was initially missed in this case. The case highlights that doctors in all settings should remain aware of this condition, especially when children present with unexplained eye inflammation.

This is a report of a single case, so we cannot determine how often this problem occurs or whether the same outcome would happen to other children with vitamin A deficiency. We don’t know details about the boy’s diet or why he developed vitamin A deficiency in the first place. The report doesn’t provide information about his long-term vision outcomes or how successful the amblyopia treatment will be. Additionally, we don’t know if there were other factors that contributed to his eye damage or his response to treatment.

The Bottom Line

Parents and caregivers should ensure children receive adequate vitamin A through diet (found in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and dairy products) or supplements if recommended by a doctor. If a child develops persistent eye redness, swelling, or sensitivity to light, especially lasting more than a few days, parents should seek medical attention. Doctors should consider vitamin A deficiency as a possible cause of unexplained eye problems in children, particularly if the child has signs of poor nutrition. Early diagnosis and treatment with vitamin A can prevent permanent eye damage.

Parents of young children, especially those with limited access to nutritious foods, should be aware of vitamin A deficiency and its effects on eye health. Healthcare providers caring for children should consider this condition in their diagnosis. Children with poor nutrition, digestive problems, or limited access to vitamin A-rich foods are at higher risk. This case is particularly relevant in developing countries where vitamin A deficiency is more common, but it’s a reminder that it can occur anywhere.

In this case, the boy’s eye swelling and redness improved relatively quickly after starting vitamin A treatment, though the exact timeline isn’t specified. However, the corneal scar that developed is permanent and will require ongoing treatment (amblyopia therapy) to optimize vision development. Vision improvements from amblyopia treatment typically take weeks to months. The key takeaway is that early treatment can prevent permanent damage, so prompt diagnosis is crucial.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily vitamin A intake through food diary entries (carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, eggs, dairy) and any vitamin supplements taken. Users can set a daily target based on age-appropriate recommendations and monitor whether they’re meeting these goals.
  • Users can set reminders to include vitamin A-rich foods in meals and snacks. The app could suggest specific recipes or food combinations that provide adequate vitamin A, making it easier for parents to ensure their children get enough of this essential nutrient.
  • For parents concerned about vitamin A intake, the app can track weekly vitamin A consumption patterns and provide feedback on whether dietary intake is adequate. Users can also log any eye-related symptoms (redness, sensitivity to light, swelling) to discuss with their healthcare provider, helping catch potential deficiencies early.

This case report describes one child’s experience with vitamin A deficiency and eye disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your child experiences eye redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, or vision problems, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider or eye specialist immediately. Do not attempt to diagnose or treat vitamin A deficiency without medical supervision, as improper supplementation can also cause health problems. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used to make medical decisions without consulting a healthcare professional.