Blind After a Junk Food Binge? This Boy’s Story Will Leave You Stunned!

A tragic story has emerged about a young boy, only 12 years old, whose extremely selective eating habits left him permanently blind. Diagnosed with autism, the unnamed boy, who lived in the U.S., had been on a restrictive diet of burgers, glazed doughnuts, and french fries. His parents had always known he was a “picky eater,” but it wasn’t until he began experiencing serious vision problems that they realized the severity of his condition. The heartbreaking case highlights a growing issue with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), an eating disorder affecting those who avoid many foods due to sensory sensitivities and aversions.

A Decline in Vision

At first, the boy’s symptoms seemed subtle. His vision dimmed in the mornings and evenings but would briefly improve throughout the day. Concerned, his parents took him for an eye examination, yet initial tests showed no alarming issues. However, his vision continued to worsen rapidly. Within six weeks, he could no longer walk without assistance, frequently stumbling and needing to lean on his parents for support. One night, he woke up screaming, terrified and unable to see anything at all.

After rushing him to the hospital, doctors quickly identified a disturbing cause: his nutrient-deficient diet had triggered a condition known as optic neuropathy, which affects the optic nerve. Without early intervention, this condition can lead to optic nerve atrophy and permanent vision loss, as it did in this boy’s case. The doctors from Boston Children’s Hospital explained the impact of ARFID, noting that about half of autistic children are affected to some degree by this restrictive eating disorder.

What is ARFID?

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is different from other eating disorders like anorexia. ARFID sufferers often have extreme aversions to certain textures, colors, or smells of food and avoid them at all costs. In some cases, these individuals avoid food altogether out of a fear of choking or vomiting. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, ARFID often emerges in childhood and is notably more common in boys. For those affected, like this young boy, “eating” becomes an ordeal filled with anxiety or discomfort.

“Kids with ARFID fall within three main categories,” researchers explained, detailing that some may strongly react to smells, tastes, textures, or colors of foods, while others might feel little interest in eating or experience intense fear of adverse reactions like pain or vomiting.

The eating disorder charity Beat reported a sharp increase in ARFID cases in recent years, noting that calls regarding ARFID had increased sevenfold in the five years prior to 2019. As more cases like this emerge, awareness is growing around the potentially devastating consequences of such restrictive diets.

“Cannot Be Reversed”

Following his hospitalization, the boy began taking supplements of essential nutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, and K, along with minerals like copper and zinc. Although doctors managed to bring his nutrient levels up, the severe damage to his optic nerve meant his vision loss would be irreversible. “This severe degree of vision loss cannot be reversed when it is found at such an advanced stage,” researchers noted, underscoring the importance of early intervention.

The boy’s family also tried various tactics to introduce more nutritious foods into his diet. They added lettuce and cheese to his hamburgers, and his parents even secretly mixed supplements into his juice boxes. However, his sharp aversion to certain textures and tastes meant he quickly detected the supplements and stopped drinking the juices.

A Growing Concern for Families with Autistic Children

The boy’s story is not an isolated case. In 2019, Kerry James, a mother in the UK, came forward to share the similar struggles her son faced after losing his sight due to ARFID. Doctors discovered that her teenage son’s nutrition levels were severely depleted due to his restrictive diet of crisps and chocolate. Like the young boy in the U.S., her son’s vision loss was attributed to the lack of critical vitamins and minerals. In another case in the UK, 12-year-old Bella Mildon also suffered vision loss after subsisting mainly on Marmite sandwiches and water, leading to a dangerous deficiency in vitamin A.

The condition can present an immense challenge for families and caregivers, especially those with children on the autism spectrum who experience sensory sensitivities. Many autistic children struggle with sensory processing, which can make even basic foods feel intolerable. Experts urge families dealing with selective eaters to seek guidance from medical professionals or therapists to avoid the long-term consequences of nutrient deficiencies.

As awareness of ARFID and related conditions grows, stories like this one underscore the need for early detection and intervention to prevent irreversible health issues. While his family continues to support him, the young boy’s experience serves as a somber reminder of how critical proper nutrition is to a child’s overall development and well-being.