Vitamin A aids many body functions, including the development of cells and bones, and this nutrient also helps maintain a healthy immune system. Your eyes need vitamin A for development and eye health, but if you have a high intake of vitamin A, you run the risk of eye problems, including vision changes. Knowing the potential problems, as well as the healthy amount of vitamin A you require, might help you avoid long-term problems.
Intake
The average adult requires between 700 and 1,300 mcg of vitamin A each day. A child needs between 300 and 900 mcg daily. Certain health conditions might require a higher or lower intake, and your doctor can evaluate your health and other factors to help you determine how much you need each day.
On average, you should not take more than 3,000 mcg daily. The average child up to age 3 should not take more than 600 mcg; from age 4 to 8, a child should not take more than 900 mcg; up to age 13, no more than 1,700 mcg; and to age 18, a child should have no more than 2,800 mcg. A higher intake than this could put you or your child at risk for overly high levels of vitamin A, a condition known as hypervitaminosis A.
Vision Problems
If you consume too much vitamin A, either through food sources or vitamins, you might experience health effects such as vision changes. You could experience blurred vision, and a young child might develop double vision.
Other conditions might cause vision changes as well. You might simply need a change in your eyeglass prescription, but eye conditions might also cause blurred vision. Common, vision-changing conditions include cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Changes in blood sugar levels might also cause changes in your vision.
Other Effects
In addition to vision changes, high vitamin A levels might also cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, stomach upset, hair loss, bone swelling and liver damage. You might also experience skin problems such as peeling, itching and discoloration, and your skin might seem oily.
Considerations
If you experience changes in vision, contact your eye doctor immediately. Prompt evaluation of your vision problems might help your doctor determine the cause for the changes and treat your condition before you suffer permanent damage to your eyes.
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