Ocular Manifestations of Autism in Ophthalmology

PURPOSE: To highlight the ocular manifestations of autism spectrum disorders in a retrospective chart review of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) among children in the pediatric ophthalmology practice setting. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. Forty-four patients diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between January 2007 and October 2011 were examined by an orthoptist, orthoptic student, and a pediatric ophthalmologist. RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of patients with ASD at GBMC were found to have an ocular abnormality, with 41% having strabismus, 27% with significant refractive error, 7% with anisometropia, and 11% with amblyopia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of strabismus, amblyopia, and anisometropia were found to be higher among patients with ASD seen at the GBMC pediatric ophthalmology practice than in the general population.