Ophthalmologists in the UK reported caring for a 17-year-old after his vision had deteriorated to the point of blindness due to a steady diet of fries, Pringles and white bread. The adolescent had seen his doctor at the age of 14 because he had been feeling tired. At that time, he was diagnosed with a Vitamin B12 deficiency and put on supplements. Unfortunately, he didn’t stick with the treatment plan or improve his poor diet. Three years later, he was taken to Bristol Eye Hospital because of progressive loss of sight. Dr. Denize Atan, who treated the young man, said his diet was essentially fries, potato chips, and occasionally a slice of white bread with a small slice of ham. His diet was devoid of fruit and vegetables. The teen wasn’t overweight or underweight, but was severely malnourished from his eating disorder — avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder. He was put on vitamin supplements and referred to a dietitian and provided with a mental health team. He had blind spots right in the middle of his vision, which means he was unable to drive and would find it difficult to read, watch TV or discern faces. He was able to walk around on his own because he had peripheral vision. Nutritional Optic Neuropathy is treatable if diagnosed early, but left too long the nerve fibers in the optic nerve die and the damage becomes permanent. Unfortunately, that was the fate of the teen in this case.
