A mother has recounted the terrifying moment her five-year-old son woke up screaming "I can't see" after a rare condition robbed him of his vision overnight.
Little Oliver, from Surrey, had gone to bed perfectly healthy but awoke in a panic as his world turned to darkness. His desperate mother, Sarah, rushed him to hospital where doctors initially struggled to diagnose the baffling condition.
"It was every parent's worst nightmare," Sarah told reporters. "One minute he was fine, the next he couldn't see his own hands in front of his face."
Medical Mystery Unfolds
At A&E, ophthalmologists discovered Oliver was suffering from a rare condition called bilateral optic neuritis - an inflammation of the optic nerves that can cause sudden vision loss.
The condition, most commonly associated with multiple sclerosis in adults, is exceptionally rare in young children. Doctors believe Oliver's case may have been triggered by a recent viral infection.
Road to Recovery
After weeks of steroid treatment and specialist care at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oliver's vision gradually returned. His mother describes the relief when he began recognising shapes and colours again.
"When he pointed to a red balloon and said 'Mummy, it's my favourite colour', I broke down in tears," Sarah recalled.
Medical experts warn that while most patients recover vision, early detection is crucial. Symptoms parents should watch for include:
- Sudden vision changes
- Complaints of eye pain with movement
- Colour vision disturbances
- Headaches accompanied by visual symptoms
Oliver's case has been documented in medical journals to help raise awareness about this rare childhood condition.
