A heartbreaking case from Malaysia highlights how an extremely poor diet can lead to permanent blindness in children. An 8-year-old boy who consumed only chicken nuggets, sausages, and cookies from infancy suffered severe vitamin A deficiency, leading to irreversible damage to his optic nerves.
Vitamin A deficiency causes symptoms like poor night vision and dry eyes before progressing to optic nerve atrophy. The boy’s teachers first noticed his visual troubles when he struggled to see in class.
Doctors and public health officials stress the importance of balanced diets rich in vitamin A including vegetables, fruits, and animal products. Rare in wealthy countries, vitamin A deficiency remains a global health issue.
