A parent of a teenager who consumes only simple foods like bread, crackers, and pasta describes the fear of learning that such limited diets can lead to permanent vision impairment.
This concern arises after two eye specialists in New Zealand warned that some children have experienced blindness due to malnutrition.
Sarah and her husband have made numerous efforts to encourage their son, who currently has good eyesight, to adopt a more balanced diet.
“He has always preferred very plain, beige foods,” she explained.
Her son’s diet consists solely of plain items such as bread, crackers, chips, pasta, and brown rice.
“It’s a challenging situation. We’ve experienced anger, sadness, and frustration trying to get him to eat properly,” she said.
His diagnosis of autism, followed by avoidant restrictive intake disorder, provided some understanding, yet Sarah remains concerned about his health.
Her son attends regular medical check-ups, sees a paediatrician, and consumes a nutrient drink three times daily along with vitamin supplements.
“Despite his limited diet, he hasn’t encountered any health issues yet, but it’s heartbreaking and frustrating when your child refuses to eat nutritious food,” Sarah expressed.
Sarah was surprised to discover her son’s dietary habits could impact his eye health.
“It’s shocking and unexpected, especially since this issue was never raised by medical specialists,” she remarked.
Paediatric ophthalmologists Dr. Julia Escardo-Paton and Dr. Rasha Altaie have encountered children who, due to a lack of fruits and vegetables, suffer from vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to blindness.
This issue was seen in children consuming diets limited to foods like hot chips, Pringles, chicken nuggets, and chips.
They advise parents worried about their children’s diets to consult their GP.
Meanwhile, two population studies are underway in New Zealand to examine the eye health of children aged seven and 12, providing local data that researchers previously sourced from overseas studies.
University of Auckland associate professor and optometrist Joanna Black is leading the research.
“It’s alarming that preventable vision loss is occurring in children for any reason,” she noted.
“Our aim with these studies is to identify how primary care can detect issues early to ensure children receive necessary follow-up care.”
Data is being collected on 12-year-olds, while analysis is being conducted on data from seven-year-olds, involving the vision testing of 1,200 children from 83 schools.
“Referrals have been made to ophthalmology services in hospitals where the cause of reduced vision couldn’t be explained by issues like refractive error,” Black said.
Refractive errors are common eye conditions that can blur vision, such as near and far-sightedness.
The 12-year-old participants will answer questions about environmental factors, including family financial pressures.
“Nutrition has become a crucial topic in eye health, as it’s linked to various conditions,” Black explained.
Blind Low Vision reports knowing of nine individuals registered as blind due to poor diet, a small portion of 16,000 registered cases.
Andrea Midgen, the chief executive, stated, “It is concerning, especially with the current cost of living pressures making good nutrition difficult for many.”
“Government bodies, ministries, and charities are focusing on addressing this complex issue,” she added.
Children are eligible for free vision tests before starting school and again in year seven, during their intermediate education.
“While we emphasize heart health and sun protection, eye health is equally critical and needs more focus as children progress through school,” Midgen stressed.
Sarah shared that her son’s diagnosis of avoidant restrictive intake disorder helped her understand his eating habits better.
“He manages well outside, but things fall apart at home,” she explained.
“After a long day, dinnertime is challenging for him, and he struggles to eat mentally,” she added.
Looking to the future, Sarah hopes for her son’s happiness and independence.
“Life is already challenging for him; our hope is for him to be healthy, happy, and independent as he grows older,” she stated.
Sarah plans to monitor his vision closely with annual sight tests.
