12 Nutritional Deficiencies and the Visual Signs They Produce

5. Vitamin A Deficiency - Eye and Skin Changes

Vitamin A deficiency creates distinctive visual changes that primarily affect the eyes and skin, reflecting this nutrient's crucial role in vision and epithelial cell maintenance. The most serious manifestation is xerophthalmia, a progression of eye changes beginning with night blindness and advancing to Bitot's spots—foamy, triangular patches on the conjunctiva that appear grayish-white and feel dry to the touch. As deficiency progresses, the cornea becomes dry and cloudy (xerosis), potentially leading to keratomalacia, where the cornea softens and may perforate, causing irreversible blindness. The skin develops a characteristic rough, dry texture known as follicular hyperkeratosis, where hair follicles become plugged with keratin, creating a sandpaper-like feel, particularly on the arms, thighs, and buttocks. This gives the skin a "goose flesh" appearance that persists regardless of temperature. The skin may also appear dull and lackluster, losing its normal smooth texture and healthy glow. Hair becomes dry, brittle, and may fall out more readily. In children, growth retardation becomes visually apparent through delayed development compared to peers. These changes occur because vitamin A is essential for maintaining the integrity of epithelial tissues and for the production of rhodopsin, the protein necessary for low-light vision.