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Brief Report: Incidence of Ophthalmologic Disorders in Children with Autism

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 43, pages 1447–1451 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose To determine the incidence of ophthalmologic disorders in children with autism and related disorders. Design Retrospective chart review. Four hundred and seven children diagnosed with autism or a related disorder between 1998 and 2006. one hundred and fifty-four of these children completed a comprehensive ophthalmology exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist. Results Ophthalmologic pathology was found in 40% of patients with autism or a related disorder with 29% having significant refractive errors, 21% demonstrating strabismus, and 10% having amblyopia. Conclusions Children with autism or a related disorder will frequently have an ophthalmologic abnormality. Since cooperation with vision screening is understandably limited in these children, a comprehensive eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist is recommended for all such children.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by a grant from Research to Prevent Blindess, Inc., (New York, New York, USA).

Conflicts of interest

There are no financial conflicts of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Monica Ultmann

    Present address: Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

  2. Jamie Ikeda

    Present address: Eye Physicians of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Jamie Ikeda, Bradley V. Davitt & Oscar A. Cruz

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1465 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA

    Jamie Ikeda, Bradley V. Davitt, Monica Ultmann, Rolanda Maxim & Oscar A. Cruz

Authors
  1. Jamie Ikeda
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  2. Bradley V. Davitt
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  3. Monica Ultmann
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  4. Rolanda Maxim
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  5. Oscar A. Cruz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bradley V. Davitt.

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Ikeda, J., Davitt, B.V., Ultmann, M. et al. Brief Report: Incidence of Ophthalmologic Disorders in Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1447–1451 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1475-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1475-2

Keywords

  • Autism
  • Amblyopia
  • Strabismus
  • Refractive errors
  • Ophthalmologic disorders