Ocular manifestations of autism in ophthalmology

Strabismus. 2013 Jun;21(2):98-102. doi: 10.3109/09273972.2013.786733.

Abstract

Purpose: To highlight the ocular manifestations of autism spectrum disorders in a retrospective chart review of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) among children in the pediatric ophthalmology practice setting.

Design: Retrospective chart review. Forty-four patients diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between January 2007 and October 2011 were examined by an orthoptist, orthoptic student, and a pediatric ophthalmologist.

Results: Fifty-two percent of patients with ASD at GBMC were found to have an ocular abnormality, with 41% having strabismus, 27% with significant refractive error, 7% with anisometropia, and 11% with amblyopia.

Conclusion: The prevalence of strabismus, amblyopia, and anisometropia were found to be higher among patients with ASD seen at the GBMC pediatric ophthalmology practice than in the general population.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autistic Disorder / complications*
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maryland / epidemiology
  • Orthoptics / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Refractive Errors / complications
  • Refractive Errors / diagnosis
  • Refractive Errors / epidemiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Strabismus / complications
  • Strabismus / diagnosis
  • Strabismus / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult