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Brief Report: Incidence of Ophthalmologic Disorders in Children with Autism

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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).

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There are no financial conflicts of interest.

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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

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