Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A (not specified)
For the health condition: Conjunctivitis

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Synopsis

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

Vitamin A plays a well-established role in maintaining ocular surface health. Scientific evidence supports the use of vitamin A, particularly in the form of topical vitamin A eye drops or ointments, for certain types of conjunctivitis, especially those related to vitamin A deficiency. Severe deficiency can lead to xerophthalmia, which can present as conjunctival inflammation and dryness. In such cases, vitamin A supplementation (systemic or topical) is effective in resolving symptoms and restoring conjunctival integrity.

There is limited but supportive clinical evidence that topical vitamin A may help heal the ocular surface in non-deficiency-related conjunctivitis, such as in patients with dry eye or post-infectious conjunctival damage. Several studies have shown that vitamin A eye drops may reduce symptoms and promote epithelial healing in various forms of ocular surface disease, though these studies are generally small and not always specific to infectious conjunctivitis.

However, for typical viral or bacterial conjunctivitis in individuals without deficiency, vitamin A is not a standard therapy, and its use is not widely validated for these indications. Most clinical guidelines do not recommend vitamin A for routine conjunctivitis except in the context of deficiency or chronic ocular surface disorders. In summary, the use of vitamin A for conjunctivitis is scientifically supported in cases of deficiency and possibly in ocular surface healing, but routine use for all conjunctivitis cases is not strongly validated.

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