Scopus
🔓 Açık Erişim YÖKSİS Eşleşti
Visual Health in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Screening Outcomes, Clinical Associations, and Service Gaps
Medicina Lithuania · Ekim 2025
YÖKSİS Kayıtları
Visual Health in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Screening Outcomes, Clinical Associations, and Service Gaps
Medicina · 2025 SCI-Expanded
DOKTOR ÖĞRETİM ÜYESİ AYŞE BOZKURT OFLAZ →
Visual Health in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Screening Outcomes, Clinical Associations, and Service Gaps
medicina · 2025 SCI-Expanded
DOKTOR ÖĞRETİM ÜYESİ ŞULE ACAR DUYAN →
Visual Health in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Screening Outcomes, Clinical Associations, and Service Gaps
Medicina · 2025 SCI-Expanded
DOKTOR ÖĞRETİM ÜYESİ EMİNE TINKIR KAYITMAZBATIR →
Makale Bilgileri
DergiMedicina Lithuania
Yayın TarihiEkim 2025
Cilt / Sayfa61
Scopus ID2-s2.0-105020053312
Erişim🔓 Açık Erişim
Özet
Background and Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience visual problems, yet their ophthalmic health remains underexplored due to testability challenges and limited-service access. This study evaluated ophthalmic screening outcomes in children with ASD and examined whether autism severity influenced ocular findings or cooperation during examinations. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 210 children with ASD (mean age 8.18 ± 4.99 years; 83.3% male). Examinations were conducted in an autism education center using non-contact methods: stereopsis (LANG I stereotest; LANG-STEREOTEST AG, Küsnacht, Switzerland), cover–uncover, and Hirschberg tests for strabismus, Spot Vision Screener (Welch Allyn Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY, USA) for refractive errors, and Brückner test for red reflex. Autism severity was assessed with the Turkish version of the Adapted Autism Behavior Checklist (AABC). Results: Refractive errors were identified in 22.3% of participants: astigmatism in 15.2%, myopia in 5.2% (including 3 high myopia), and hyperopia in 1.9%. Strabismus was present in 11.9%, most commonly intermittent exotropia. Nearly half (49.5%) could not complete stereopsis testing, and a weak positive correlation was observed between AABC scores and the higher absolute spherical equivalent (SE) value between the two eyes (r = 0.173, p = 0.044). Children unable to complete stereopsis testing had significantly higher AABC scores (22.66 ± 9.69 vs. 13.39 ± 9.41, p < 0.001). Notably, 50 children (23.8%) had never undergone an eye examination prior to this study. Conclusions: Ophthalmic findings, particularly astigmatism and strabismus, are common in children with ASD. Greater autism severity was associated with reduced testability and modestly worse refractive error status. These findings suggest that tailored, accessible eye-care approaches and systematic vision screening may help to reduce overlooked visual problems and support more equitable care for children with ASD.
Yazarlar (5)
1
Emine Tınkır Kayıtmazbatır
ORCID: 0000-0002-8553-6992
2
Hasan Ali Guler
3
Şule Nur Acar Duyan
ORCID: 0000-0002-9319-0477
4
Ayşe Bozkurt Oflaz
ORCID: 0000-0001-5894-0220
5
Banu Bozkurt
ORCID: 0000-0002-9847-3521
Anahtar Kelimeler
autism spectrum disorder
pediatric ophthalmology
refractive errors
screening
stereopsis
strabismus
testability
underserved care
visual health
Kurumlar
Selçuk Tip Fakültesi
Konya Turkey