Understanding eye care access for autistic adults and families: A convergent mixed-methods study.
Chris Edwards, Abigail Ma Love, Ru Ying Cai and 5 others
PMID 40974272WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults and parents reported sensory overload, rushed appointments, and medical jargon as major barriers to eye care.
They identified staff autism training, plain language, longer appointment times, and visual aids as key supports. Financial costs for glasses and specialist care also prevented access.
Key findings
01Sensory sensitivities and anxiety were the most frequently reported difficulties during eye examinations for autistic adults, while parents cited anxiety, sensory issues, and lack of staff understanding as primary challenges for their children.
02The majority of participants valued staff knowledgeable about autism, a calm environment, and clear instructions as essential supports, with autistic adults preferring digital reminders and parents preferring visual aids.
03Financial barriers, particularly the cost of glasses and specialist care, led some autistic adults to delay or forgo necessary eye care despite publicly funded routine vision testing.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The sample lacked demographic diversity, with most participants identifying as White and residing in Australia; responses from Aotearoa New Zealand and parents were limited. Recruitment via autism networks may have overrepresented people with greater engagement or more direct experience of eye care challenges. The online survey format likely excluded autistic people with intellectual disability or high support needs. Most responses focused on routine optometry rather than specialist or hospital-based care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study was supported by non-U.S. government funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to all autistic individuals or all eye care settings. The study relied on self-selected participants from autism networks, likely excluding those with intellectual disability or high support needs, and most responses concerned routine optometry rather than specialist care.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →