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COVID-19 lockdown measures induced severe iron-deficiency anaemia resulting in central retinal vein occlusion and amenorrhea
  1. Yu Heng Kwan1,
  2. Natalie Liling Woong1,
  3. Reuben Chao Ming Foo2 and
  4. Tharmmambal Balakrishnan1
  1. 1Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
  2. 2Cataract and Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
  1. Correspondence to Dr Natalie Liling Woong; natalie.woong.l.l{at}singhealth.com.sg

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, precautionary measures taken by various countries include individual movement restrictions causing significant lifestyle changes and affecting dietary patterns. A 23-year-old woman presented with reduced left eye vision over 1 week and amenorrhea for 4 months. She was diagnosed with severe iron-deficiency anaemia causing central retinal vein occlusion and amenorrhea. During the lockdown, there was a change in her diet with greatly reduced iron intake. Iron is an essential mineral for retina metabolism and function. Iron supplementation was done with improvement in her vision. This case demonstrates the potential impact of lockdown measures on nutrition and health. Education of the general population on maintaining appropriate nutrition during periods of movement restriction is important and that nutritional evaluation and supplementation should be considered in patients with drastic changes in dietary pattern.

  • retina
  • COVID-19
  • malnutrition
  • obstetrics and gynaecology

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Footnotes

  • Contributors YHK wrote the manuscript. NLW and TB revised the manuscript. RCMF revised the manuscript and provided the fundal image. All authors were involved in the clinical management of the patient.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.