Evaluation of ocular findings in children with autism spectrum disorder: Observational study

This study aims to emphasize the significance of ophthalmologic examination in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and evaluate the ophthalmologic findings and their frequency. We retrospectively analyzed the files of 40 boys and 20 girls aged 4 to 18. In cycloplegic spherical equivalents, -0.50 diopter (D) or more myopia, ≥+2.0D hyperopia and ≥±1D astigmatism in cylindrical equivalents were accepted. Patients with ≥1D difference in spherical or cylindrical equivalents between the 2 eyes were considered anisometropic. Amblyopia was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity ≤0.8 with Snellen chart and a difference of at least 2 lines between both eyes. Children were grouped as myopia, hyperopia, myopia astigmatism, hyperopia astigmatism, mixed astigmatism, emmetrope and anisometropia according to refractive errors. Strabismus was classified as esotropia, exotropia and orthophoric. Forty (66.66%) of the patients with ASD were boys and 20 (33.33%) were girls. Emmetropia was found in 38.33%, myopia in 3.33%, hyperopia in 21.66%, myopia astigmatism in 16.66%, hyperopia astigmatism in 14.99%, mixed astigmatism in 1.66%, anisometropia in 6.66%, amblyopia in 6.66%, esotropia in 9.99%, exotropia in 11.66%, ptosis in 4.99%, and nystagmus in 1.66%. There was no statistically significant difference in the findings except hyperopia according to gender (P > .05). Hyperopia (P = .022) showed a statistically significant difference according to gender (P < .05). Children with ASD have significant ophthalmological abnormalities. Early diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors and other eye problems may contribute to these children's psychomotor and social development.