Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin A (including retinyl acetate, a form of vitamin A) has scientific backing for its role in maintaining ocular surface health, but the evidence specifically for treating conjunctivitis is moderate. Vitamin A is essential for normal vision and maintaining the integrity of epithelial tissues, including the conjunctiva. Deficiency in vitamin A is well-known to cause ocular surface disorders such as xerophthalmia, Bitot’s spots, and increased susceptibility to infections, including conjunctivitis. Topical vitamin A ointments are used in ophthalmology, particularly in the management of dry eye and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and have been shown in some studies to promote healing of the conjunctival and corneal epithelium. For infectious conjunctivitis, vitamin A does not act as an antimicrobial, but it may support healing of the conjunctival tissue and reduce damage in the setting of deficiency. The World Health Organization recommends vitamin A supplementation in children with measles, in part due to a reduction in the risk or severity of infectious complications like conjunctivitis. However, direct, high-quality clinical trials showing efficacy of vitamin A supplementation or topical use specifically for non-deficiency-related conjunctivitis in otherwise healthy individuals are limited. Thus, while there is a physiological rationale and some clinical precedent, the evidence for routine vitamin A use in conjunctivitis is moderate and most justified when deficiency is present or suspected.

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