Ocular Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Evaluating the Ocular Function of Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interrelationship Between Blinking Reflex and Cornea Innervation.

This study will investigate the visual function in individuals with ASD, with a particular focus on the ocular surface condition and visual function assessment.

Anomalies in visual information processing can have a major effect on the life quality of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including eye gaze abnormality, higher frequency of refractive errors (e.g., astigmatism, hypermetropia, and anisometropia), strabismus, abnormal blinking rate, disturbed eye movements that may be associated with or aggravated social communication deficits of ASD. However, little is known about the ocular surface conditions. This study will investigate the visual function in individuals with ASD, with a particular focus on the ocular surface condition. We plan to recruit 50 adults with ASD and 50 age-/sex-matched typically developing controls in this project, and perform visual function assessment.

ASD group:

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Having a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
2. Aged over 20 years; able to read and sign an informed consent form.
3. Clear conscious and can follow the instruction of opening eyes and movement toward all direction.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable to cooperate with the examinations.
2. Younger than 20 years old.

TD group:

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged over 20 years; able to read and sign an informed consent form.
2. Clear conscious and can follow the instruction of opening eyes and movement toward all direction.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable to cooperate with the examinations.
2. Younger than 20 years old.
3. Having a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder