A study published in the journal Neurological Sciences revealed that the measurement of changes in the pupils of the eyes in reaction to light, known as the pupillary light reflex, can be used to screen for autism in early infants. The first author, Dr. Georgina Lynch, states that the proof-of-concept study was built on earlier work to support the continued development of a portable technology that could provide a quick and easy way to screen children for autism, a disorder that affects communication and social interaction with others.

In the study, 36 children aged 6 to 17 who had been previously diagnosed with autism were tested, along with a group of 24 typically developing children who served as controls. Children′s pupillary light reflexes were tested by trained clinical providers using a handheld monocular pupillometer device, which measures one eye at a time. Analyzing the results, the researcher found that children with autism showed significant differences in the time it took for their pupils to constrict in response to light. Their pupils also took longer to return to their original size after the light was removed.

Dr. Lynch stated that in autism, the system is modulated in the brain by cranial nerves rooted in the brainstem, and adjacent cranial nerves affect the child’s ability to acquire speech and language. The pupillary light reflex tests the integrity of that system and is a very simple, non-invasive measure to determine whether there are differences between typical development and autism.

(source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/an-eye-test-could-help-detect-autism-in-children-study-101661178884587.html )