Will the children of individuals with autism have strabismus?

Nov 21, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Baohua

Introduction

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Although it is associated with genetic factors, it is not a directly inherited disease. Its genetic mechanism involves multiple genes, epigenetic factors, and interactions with the environment, and cannot be simply attributed to either parent. Strabismus, on the other hand, is an ophthalmological condition whose causes include genetic factors, abnormalities in neuromuscular development, and refractive errors. Some strabismus patients show familial clustering.

Generally speaking, children of individuals with autism are not directly prone to strabismus due to autism itself, but the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors should be considered. If any abnormalities are observed, timely medical consultation is recommended. The detailed analysis is as follows:

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Although it is associated with genetic factors, it is not a directly inherited disease. Its genetic mechanisms involve multiple genes, epigenetic factors, and interactions with the environment, and cannot be simply attributed to one parent. Strabismus, on the other hand, is an ophthalmological condition caused by factors such as genetics, abnormal neuromuscular development, and refractive errors. While some strabismus cases show familial clustering, there is no direct causal link between autism and strabismus.

If there is a family history of strabismus among relatives of individuals with autism, their children may have an increased risk of developing strabismus due to genetic influences on ocular muscle development or neural control. However, such cases require evaluation through specific genetic testing and ophthalmologic examinations; strabismus risk cannot be inferred solely based on an autism diagnosis.

Couples of reproductive age with a family history of strabismus are advised to seek genetic counseling and avoid infections and exposure to medications during pregnancy. After birth, children should undergo regular vision screenings, with the first comprehensive eye examination completed before age 3, to enable early detection and intervention for strabismus.

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