Vitamin deficiency Opticians can see changes in the retina such as Bitot's spots which appear as bubbly, foamy patches on the conjunctiva. This is an indication of low vitamin A levels. If a patient is lacking vitamin B12, they may suffer from changes in the optic nerve which can lead to vision problems.
Disturbed or blurred vision can also occur as a result of a Vitamin B12 deficiency. This happens when the deficiency causes damage to the optic nerve that leads to your eyes. The nervous signal that travels from the eye to the brain is disturbed due to this damage, leading to impaired vision.
Anemia. Similar to a vitamin deficiency, your optometrist can tell if your red blood cell count is low. Anemia can cause a lot of discomfort, including dizziness, a fast or unusual heartbeat, headache, pain, shortness of breath, weakness, cold hands or feet, and more.
Optic neuropathy is reported to occur in less than 1% of VitB12 deficient patients. It mostly results in progressive, bilateral, painless loss of vision associated with abnormal color vision and central or ceco – central scotomas.
Dizziness
Frequent bouts about dizziness and vertigo can indicate B12 deficiency. You may experience a feeling of wobbles when you get up too fast from a sitting position. You may also feel dizzy when you walk up or downstairs, it could also be dangerous.
According to a 2017 study, a B12 deficiency is associated with severe dry eye and eye pain. A recent 2015 study found that the combination of oral vitamin B12 supplements and artificial tears improved symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
B 12 deficiency-induced optic neuropathy may be reversible if identified timely. In patients with visual disturbance, B12 levels should be checked with a fundus exam. A subclinical optic neuropathy should be ruled out in B12 deficient patients.
An optometrist is trained to recognise abnormalities in your eyes. They examine the internal and external structure of your eyes to detect conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. They may also test your ability to focus and coordinate your eyes and see depth and colours accurately.
The hemoglobin in the red blood cells is what gives the blood its colour. Therefore, low levels or lack of iron in the body can make your blood less like it. Usually, a normal eye appears pale pink in colour. However, if you're deficient in iron in the body, your inner eyelid may seem more white.
Pernicious anaemia causes your immune system to attack the cells in your stomach that produce the intrinsic factor, which means your body is unable to absorb vitamin B12.
When B12 levels are low, iron deficiency is likely to happen. B12 also helps to make bone marrow. As a whole, B vitamins are crucial for metabolism and energy production. Ironically, if lacking in the body, they can disrupt sleep patterns, which may aggravate dark circles and make your skin dull.
However, if you're deficient in certain vitamins, changes on your skin can be a tell-tale sign. Insufficient levels of Vitamin A and E can lead to acne formation on your face, whereas low levels of Vitamin B12 deficiency can make your skin look paler than ever.
Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet: People who don't eat enough foods that naturally have vitamin B12 or don't eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 can develop vitamin B12 deficiency. Gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it's a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin A is essential for maintaining the eyes' photoreceptors— the light sensing cells. Without this vitamin, night blindness, dry eyes, or other severe ocular conditions can develop. Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most common causes of blindness.
Vitamin B12 can help maintain and promote healthy eyesight. As we get older, many of us suffer from macular degeneration (loss of eyesight). In a study on 5 000 women over the age of 40, sufficient vitamin B12 intake was linked to 34-41% lowered risk of macular degeneration.
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
B12 and Anxiety: The Basics
Some studies have found people experiencing anxiety have lower levels of vitamin B12, and that people with anxiety and depression at more likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Several commercially available test kits allow you to collect a sample for vitamin B12 testing at home. Some kits test only your vitamin B12 level. Others test B12 in combination with other vitamins, and there are at-home micronutrient test kits that include B12 in the panel.
The NHS notes that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause “loss of physical coordination (ataxia), which can affect your whole body and cause difficulty speaking or walking”. The Mayo Clinic describes the walking style saying a person with vitamin B12 deficiency can walk unsteadily, or with their feet set wide apart.
You might get frequent headaches if your vitamin B12 levels are too high. Elevated levels of this vitamin can also cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. You may feel tired and weak. High amounts of vitamin B12 can also cause you to feel like your hands and feet are tingling.
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common presentation of vitamin B12 deficiency. Depending upon the type of nerve involved, it may present as pain, numbness, tingling, loss of sensation, decreased motor activity, or decreased muscle mass.