Why children are scared of the dark

Some children cannot sleep in the dark

A child who is afraid of the dark may not be seeking attention - as many parents would suspect - but rather suffering from night blindness.

Researchers say the condition is rare, and the diagnosis can often be missed.

Most people's eyes adjust to the dark after a short period of time.

But some children, who have no obvious visual problems and who can see normally in well-lit conditions, can have difficulty seeing in the dark even after this period of adaptation.

Fear of shadows

Writing in the British Medical Journal, researchers from the Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, detail two cases of a form of the condition congenital stationary night blindness.

Night blindness in children can bring about profound fear of the dark

Gordon Dutton, consultant ophthalmologist, Gartnavel General Hospital

A three-year-old girl was brought to doctors by her parents who said she persistently complained about not being able to see in the dark.

She had great difficulty getting to sleep, and would not leave her bedroom in the dark, although she would move from a dark bedroom to a lit hallway.

She was only taken to see doctors after her three-month-old sister was diagnosed as having sight problems.

The second case concerned a girl of two who had a history of falling over and bumping into things, as well as problems seeing in the dark.

She would wake crying in the night, but would not go to her parents' bedroom and was very frightened. She was also afraid of shadows

Doctors discovered there was a family history of visual problems, including night blindness.

The child was given a torch she could carry outside at night, and she had a bright light shining into her bedroom.

Her fear of the dark appears to have disappeared.

The research team, led by consultant ophthalmologist Gordon Dutton, said it was important to get as many details as possible where children are afraid of the dark, particularly if there is a family history of visual problems.

They wrote: "Night blindness in children can bring about profound fear of the dark.

"Recognition of the diagnosis and the simple expedient of giving the child control of lighting conditions can change family life."