A clinical trial led by Margaret Reynolds, MD, MSCI, from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences explored whether vision correction surgery could make a meaningful difference, not just in eyesight, but also in behavior and daily life.
The trial included 267 children with ASD or ASD-like behaviors and vision problems over 15 years. Each child received one of three types of vision correction surgery, selected based on their individual eye needs. Some had a laser procedure that reshapes the surface of the eye (PRK). Others received an implantable lens placed inside the eye, and a smaller group underwent lens replacement surgery. All procedures were performed under brief general anesthesia, and children went home the same day.
The results were compelling. After surgery, 87% of children achieved near-normal vision, with an average improvement of about six lines on a standard eye chart. These gains were long-lasting, with follow-up extending beyond three years. Clearer vision appeared to have benefits beyond eyesight. 72% of children showed improvements in social interaction and autism-related behaviors, based on parent reports. Serious complications were rare.
For children with ASD who cannot tolerate traditional vision correction, these findings suggest that surgery may offer a safe and effective way to improve both visual function and overall quality of life.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.