Children with autism missing out on eye care

Three quarters of children with no history of eye care were noted to have autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in latest research by national sight loss and disability charity SeeAbility.

SeeAbility estimated that over 33,000 children with ASD in England’s special schools could be missing out on routine eye care.

The charity has been sight testing children in a number of special schools since 2013 and its second annual report was entitled ‘28 times more likely’ because children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have a serious sight problem.

Over half of children tested in the schools had a vision problem, while 43% of pupils seen for the first time had no history of eye care. Meanwhile, 36% of children seen needed glasses.