Cataract secondary to self-inflicted blunt trauma in children with autism spectrum disorder

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Yeon-Hee Lee, Chungnam National University; Scott Lambert, Emory University; Phoebe Lenhart, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-05-17
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 by the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaapos.2016.02.013
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of AAPOS
• ISSN: 1091-8531
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 361
• End Page: 362
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported by NIH Departmental Core Grant EY006360 and Research to Prevent Blindness Inc, New York, New York.
• Keywords: INJURIOUS-BEHAVIOR; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Pediatrics; Science & Technology; Ophthalmology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Opthamology

Abstract

We report 3 cases of bilateral cataract secondary to self-inflicted blunt eye trauma in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). All 3 children hit their foreheads, orbits, or globes repeatedly for long periods of time and developed cataracts. Clinicians must be aware of this phenomenon to diagnose ocular pathology early and to provide adequate education, counseling, and services to affected patients and their families and to put appropriate postoperative care mechanisms in place to prevent permanent ocular damage.