Autistic Children Less Likely to Get Early Vision Screenings in Primary Care

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at an increased risk for health disparities, and a new study, “Vision Screening in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” in the April 2023 Pediatrics (published online March 21) found that they are far less likely to receive routine vision screenings. Researchers studied data from 63,829 pediatric office visits for 3- to 5-year-olds, collected between 2016 and 2019, and found that autistic children were far less likely to have a vision screening, with just 36.5% receiving a screening compared with 59.9% of children without ASD. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual instrument-based vision screenings at well visits for children starting at age 1 and visual acuity screening starting at age 4. Of autistic children, Black children were even less likely to receive vision screenings during well child visits with just 27.6% receiving the screening compared to 39.7% of white autistic children. This finding aligns with research that shows that Black children receive fewer treatments for ASD like outpatient therapy services and medications and are often diagnosed later. Researchers concluded greater awareness of this issue is needed to improve care for autistic children, but that more research is needed to track eye care for autistic children outside the pediatric clinic in schools and eye clinics.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.