Autism in eye care: A mixed‐methods study of professional knowledge, confidence and clinical experience

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Edwards, C., Love, A., Cai, R. Y., Constable, P. A., Love, D. C., Parmar, K. R., Gowen, E., & gibbs, v. (2025). Autism in eye care: A mixed‐methods study of professional knowledge, confidence and clinical experience. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 45(7), 2116-2128. https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.70029

Publication date: 16 Oct 2025 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
8
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 8 (12.5%)
  1. Chris Edwards *
  2. Abigail Love
  3. Ru Ying Cai
  4. Paul A. Constable
  1. Daniel C. Love
  2. Ketan R. Parmar
  3. Emma Gowen
  4. vicki gibbs

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Autistic people face significant barriers when accessing healthcare, which contribute to health disparities and unmet needs. While emerging research has described the experiences of autistic individuals accessing eye care, little is known about the perspectives of eye care professionals. This study aimed to examine autism‐related knowledge, self‐efficacy and attitudes among a sample of eye care professionals, and to explore their clinical experiences, perceived challenges and support needs when providing care to autistic patients. Methods A mixed‐methods design was used, combining quantitative survey data and qualitative content analysis. A total of 198 eye care professionals (optometrists, n = 107; ophthalmologists, n = 52) predominantly from Australia ( n = 84), the USA ( n = 79) and the United Kingdom ( n = 20) completed an online survey. Regression analyses examined whether professional role, country, age, experience, personal connection to autism and frequency of contact predicted autism knowledge, self‐efficacy and disability attitudes. Correlations explored relationships among these three variables. Open‐ended responses were analysed using conventional content analysis. Results Participants reported moderately high levels of self‐efficacy, autism knowledge and positive disability attitudes, yet only 14% perceived they had received formal autism‐specific training. Frequent clinical contact with autistic individuals was the strongest predictor of higher self‐efficacy ( p < 0.001). Qualitative analysis identified common challenges (e.g., sensory sensitivities, time constraints and communication barriers) and practical strategies (e.g., flexible testing, sensory accommodations and clear communication). Participants expressed a strong desire for further training and system‐level supports to provide more accessible, person‐centred care. Conclusions Eye care professionals in this sample appeared motivated to support autistic patients, but often perceived a lack of structured training and identified systemic constraints that limited their capacity to provide accessible services. Practical, autism‐informed resources, developed in collaboration with autistic people, alongside changes in clinical policy and workflow, may help address these challenges.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 14:00.

Cited references
53
With a DOI
48
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
5
15 / 53 (28.3%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 53 (1.9%)
References with detected author names
52 / 53 (98.1%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
4
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
308
From DOI or external metadata
308
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
146 / 308 (47.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 162 / 308 (52.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
32 / 308 (10.4%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 32 / 146 (21.9%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 22 / 276 (8.0%).
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