Details
Category: Volume 07 Issue 12 December 2019
Hits: 1678

Title: Types of refractive error in autistic children

Authors: Mariam M. B. Gebril, Bahjah Abdulhamid Hamad Esehiyb

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i12.98

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a reported prevalence of 1.1 to 1.5% characterized by impairment of social interaction, communication, and/or repetitive behaviors or routines, The term autism spectrum disorder includes individuals with a diagnosis of autism and Asperger syndrome.

In an effort to develop an improved understanding of autism spectrum disorder, many areas of visual processing have previously been investigated.

The aim of this study was to describe the refractive profile of a population of children with ASD.

Materials and Methods: Ophthalmic examination was carried out on children diagnosed with autism attending a pediatric eye clinic in Benghazi, Libya from October 2018 to April 2019.

Visual acuity was assessed by illiterate and child picture Snellen chart followed by complete eye examination and a Cycloplegic refraction was performed, Data were managed by SPSS version no. 20.00.

Results: a 26 child were included ranging from 3 to 15 years old, mean age (6.4±3.3 yr.) there were 14 boys (53.8%) and 12 girls (46.2%).

Refraction revealed 21 children had significant refractive errors with 11 children (42.3%) had astigmatism, 10 children (38.5%) had hypermetropia and 5 children (19.2%) did not have a significant refractive error.

Conclusion: Significant refractive error mainly astigmatism was noted in the children with autism.

Correction and searching of these refractive errors early may enhance improvement of this disorder thus help them to have an agreeable life.

References

  1. Barbaro, J., & Dissanayake, C. (2009). Autism spectrum disorders in infancy and toddlerhood: A review of the evidence on early signs, early identification tools, and early diagnosis. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 30(5), 447–459. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181ba0f9f.
  2. Mottron, L., Dawson, M., Soulieres, I., Hubert, B., &Burack, J. A. _ (2006). Enhanced perceptual functioning in autism: An Update and eight principles of autistic perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 27–43. https://doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0040-7.
  3. Bailey A, Luthert P, Dean A, et al. A Clinicopathological Study of Autism. Brain 1998;121:889–905.
  4. Christensen DL, Baio J, Van Naarden Braun K, et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder among Children Aged 8 Years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2012. MMWR Surveil Summ 2016;165:1–23.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Autism spectrum disorder: Data and statistics. Retrieved April 28, 2011, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.
  1. VIP-HIP Study Group. Kulp MT, Ciner E, Maguire M, et al. Uncorrected Hyperopia and Preschool Early Literacy: Results of the Vision in Preschoolers—Hyperopia in Preschoolers (VIP-HIP) Study. Ophthalmology 2016; 123:681–9.
  2. Denis D, Burillon C, Livet MO, Burguière O. Ophthalmologic signs in children with autism. J Fr Ophtalmol1997;20:103-10.
  3. Davitt BV, Cruz OA, Ikeda J, et al. Brief report: incidence of ophthalmologic disorders in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord2012;42:1–5.
  4. Trachtman JN. Background and history of autism in relation to vision care. Optometry 2008;79:391-6.
  5. Milne E, Griffiths H, Buckley D, Scope A. Vision in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorder: evidence for reduced convergence. J Autism Dev Disord 2009;39:965-75.
  6. Gronlund, M. A., Andersson, S., Aring, E., Hard, A. L., & Hellstrom, A. (2006). Ophthalmological findings in a sample of Swedish children aged 4–15 years. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 84, 169–176. https://doi:10.1111/j.1600-0420.2005.00615.x.
  7. Hirsch, M. J. (1963). Changes in astigmatism during the first eight years of school—an interim report from the Ojai Longitudinal study. American Journal of Optometry, 40, 127–132.
  8. Zadnik, K., Mutti, D. O., & Adams, A. J. (1992). Astigmatism in children: What’s the rule? Ophthalmic and Visual Optics Technical Digest, 3, 68–71.
  9. Graham, P. A. (1974). The epidemiology of strabismus. The British Journal of Ophthalmology, 58, 224–231. https://doi:10.1136/bjo.58.3.224.
  10. Stayte, M., Reeves, B., & Wortham, C. (1993). Ocular and vision defects in pre-school children. The British Journal of Ophthalmology, 77, 228–232. https://doi:10.1136/bjo.77.4.228.
  11. Kulp, M. T., Ciner, E., Maguire, M., Moore, B., Pentimonti, J., Pistilli, M., … Ying, G. (2016). Uncorrected Hyperopia and Preschool Early Literacy. Ophthalmology, 123(4), 681–689. https://doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.11.023
  12. Lai, M. C., Lombardo, M. V., & Auyeung, B. (2015). Sex/gender differencesand autism: setting the scene for future research. Journal of theAmerican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 54, 11–24.
  13. Van Wijngaarden-Cremers, P. J., Van Eeten, E., Groen, W. B., Van D eurzen, P. A., Oosterling, I. J., & Van der Gaag, R. J. (2014).Gender and age differences in the core triad of impairments in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(3), 627–635.

Corresponding Author

Mariam M. B. Gebril

Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Benghazi University, Libya