Initial Ophthalmic Findings in Turkish Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Kabatas E. U., Ozer P. A., Ertugrul G. T., Kurtul B. E., Bodur S., Alan B. E.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol.45, no.8, pp.2578-2581, 2015 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10803-015-2428-3
  • Journal Name: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2578-2581
  • Keywords: Autism, Ophthalmologic disorders, Refractive errors, Strabismus
  • Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently have ophthalmologic disorders. Due to poor cooperation with ophthalmological examination, ocular abnormalities in such children may be overlooked. We retrospectively studied the records of 324 patients diagnosed as ASD that underwent ophthalmological examination between January 2011 and November 2014 at Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Ophthalmic pathology was noted in 26.9 % of patients with ASD, of which 22 % had significant refractive errors and 8.6 % had strabismus. Comprehensive eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist is recommended for all children diagnosed as ASD.