In Malaysia, an 8-year-old boy has tragically lost his vision, caused by a diet consisting mainly of chicken nuggets, sausages, and cookies from infancy. His blindness was only noticed when he asked a teacher why he couldn’t see well. Quickly, the school arranged for him to be taken to the hospital.
Specialists found that the boy suffered a serious vitamin A deficiency, a nutrient essential for eye health. Though uncommon in wealthy countries, vitamin A deficiency is still a top cause of childhood blindness in poorer areas. The lack of it caused permanent damage to his optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness.
Dr. Erna Nadia, an influential Malaysian doctor, shared this case on social media to warn other parents. She emphasized how hard it can be to consistently prepare nourishing meals and offered sympathy to the child’s family as they face this difficult reality.
Symptoms to notice include dry eyes, trouble seeing in dim light, unusual gray spots in the eyes, and less tear production. Preventing deficiency means including plenty of green and orange vegetables, fruits like mango and papaya, eggs, dairy, meats, fish, and fortified staples in meals. Supplements may also be needed, especially for children and mothers.
This heartbreaking story is a reminder of the worldwide issue of vitamin A deficiency, still responsible for many cases of preventable blindness in children. It parallels a similar incident reported recently in the United States, shining a light on the importance of balanced nutrition from an early age.
