Visual Function in Children with ADHD: Clinical Findings and the Mediating Role of Psychostimulant Medication

The purpose of this study was to compare the visual function, using standard optometric clinical procedures, between children with ADHD and healthy controls, and to examine the mediating role of psychostimulant medication. This work aims to provide clinically relevant evidence that may contribute to a better management of children with ADHD in eye care settings.

A total of 112 children aged 6 to 14 years old were divided into three different groups: 58 non-medicated ADHD children, 22 medicated ADHD children, and 32 age-matched controls. A series of visual variables commonly assessed in clinical practice (i.e. refractive error, visual performance, accommodation, and binocular system) were measured according to standard procedures.

Statistically significant differences were observed for contrast sensitivity (p-value = 0.014), with the control group showing better results. Regarding accommodative and binocular parameters, only the accommodative facility showed a statistically significant (p = 0.048) tendency toward a worse ability to change accommodative focus in children with ADHD compared to controls. Psychostimulant treatment did not have any effect on visual function (p > 0.05 in all cases).

From all the variables assessed, only accommodation facility and contrast sensitivity appear to differ from the control group, and these appear to be independent of psychostimulant treatment in children with ADHD.