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See how you can prepare for your eye examination:<\/h2>\nPatient resources<\/a>.<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Are you an eyecare provider?<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Eyecare provider resources” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
See our award-winning recommendations on how you can provide autism-friendly services<\/h2>\nEyecare provider resources<\/a>.<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Project background<\/h2>\n
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Sensory issues have a severe impact on the lives of many autistic people and their ability to communicate and function, leading to stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n
Our project aimed to better understand vision and eye conditions in autistic adults who do not have learning disabilities.<\/p>\n
To achieve this, we conducted a number of studies that included focus groups, interviews, online questionnaires and eye examinations with autistic adults. The studies took place between September 2018 and December 2021 as part of Ketan’s PhD project. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The eye conditions we investigated included:<\/p>\n
\n- visual sensory issues (or hypersensitivity\/ sensory overload);<\/li>\n
- problems with level of vision;<\/li>\n
- the need for spectacles;<\/li>\n
- issues with the coordination of the eyes (for example, a lazy eye).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why was this project important?” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
If not treated correctly, eye conditions affect a person\u2019s quality of life. Research suggests that, among autistic people, there are more people who need spectacles and experience eye coordination problems.<\/p>\n
However, the majority of existing research focuses on autistic children with learning disabilities rather than the population of autistic people as a whole.<\/p>\n
Vision problems are common among people with learning disabilities so, from this existing research, it is difficult to determine whether autism is specifically related to eye conditions. We therefore needed to do research to understand if certain eye conditions are more common in autistic adults without learning difficulties.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”What were the aims of this project?” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
This project aimed to:<\/p>\n
\n- find out which visual issues and symptoms are experienced by autistic adults;<\/li>\n
- investigate how treatment impacts vision, visual symptoms and quality of life;<\/li>\n
- develop guidelines, training and changes in policies for optometrists to make eye examinations and practice environments more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Our studies” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
We conducted 3 studies with a total of 364 autistic adults:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/b>Study 1 – focus groups<\/b><\/strong>: To understand how eye conditions impact autistic adults\u2019 daily lives and discussing their experiences of eye examinations.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 2 – online questionnaire<\/b><\/strong>: To investigate whether anxiety is a barrier to accessing eye examinations for autistic adults.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 3 – eye examinations and interviews<\/b><\/strong>: To describe eye conditions (for example, a requirement for spectacles, variations in eye muscle balance and perceptual issues) in autistic adults. To explore how eye examinations can be made more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Read more about our studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Meet the team<\/h2>\n
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This study was carried out by members of the Body, Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, along with an expert advisory team of autistic people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Our team members<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Ketan Parmar” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/215\/2025\/12\/ketan_parmar_new_150x150.png\")
Dr Ketan Parmar is an optometrist by profession, having graduated from The University of Manchester with a master’s degree in 2018. In summer 2022, he completed his PhD in autism, vision and accessible eyecare, working closely with autistic adults.<\/p>\n
He is currently a Lecturer in Advanced Clinical Optometric Practice at Manchester, and continues his research into autism and accessible eyecare. In 2025, he was awarded the College of Optometrists’ George Giles Postgraduate Research Award for his research into eyecare accessibility for autistic people and subsequent recommendations.<\/p>\n
View Dr Parmar’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Emma Gowen ” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autistic-eye-conditions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/215\/2019\/12\/emma-gowen.png\")
Emma is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at The University of Manchester and co-directs the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab, researching sensory motor control in autistic adults. She chairs the co-production network, Autism@Manchester, which aims to produce quality research with real meaning for autistic people.<\/p>\n
Emma is a keen advocate of participatory research, with much of her research benefitting from involvement and co-partnership of the autistic community.<\/p>\n
View Prof Gowen\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Chris Dickinson” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
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Professor Chris Dickinson is Professor of Clinical Optometry. Chris\u2019s main research interest is in low vision, and how individuals with low vision can be helped in their everyday life.<\/p>\n
Her work often involves investigating the effectiveness of different types of visual aids. <\/p>\n
View Prof Dickinson\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Catherine Porter” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autistic-eye-conditions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/215\/2019\/12\/catherine-porter-1.png\")
Dr Catherine Porter is a Senior Lecturer in Optometry at The University of Manchester where she teaches binocular vision and further investigative techniques. Her PhD was entitled An Investigation of Reading in Dyslexia and she continues to have a specialist interest in patients with reading difficulties, binocular vision problems and those with visual stress.<\/p>\n
She has presented workshops and lectures nationally and internationally on clinical aspects of binocular vision, and has authored several continuing education and training articles on the same topic.<\/p>\n
View Dr Porter’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Peter Baimbridge” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autistic-eye-conditions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/215\/2019\/12\/peter-baimbridge.png\")
Peter Baimbridge is an autistic adult with a career in technical sales and marketing and business management. Since diagnosis in 2011 he has created Salford Autism, a unique autism support group led and run by people with their own diagnosis of autism. The group works in the community with all types and ages of autistic people and their families to achieve effective solutions to the practical problems they experience living with autism.<\/p>\n
Peter joined Autism@Manchester in 2015 to add a voice for the autistic population and inform research from his own unique perspective and personal experience, as well as his experience of the problems of others.<\/p>\n
In 2016, he became Coordinator of Autism@Manchester and was acknowledged by The University of Manchester as an honorary visiting academic. Peter was diagnosed with diabetes in early 1992 and so has had annual eye checks at a local optician\u2019s practice since then.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”James Pelham” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
![\"James](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autistic-eye-conditions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/215\/2019\/12\/james-pelham.png\")
James Pelham was diagnosed with autism in April 2015 at Sheffield Adult Neurodevelopmental Service.<\/p>\n
Since then he has immersed himself in study about autism and has taken part in many research trials, in the hope that it will improve life for other autistic people.<\/p>\n
He holds a joint honours degree from The University of Manchester in French and Russian and several diplomas in music performance and theory.<\/p>\n
James is an active performer and composer. He is also a Director on the board of Autscape<\/a>, an autistic-led organisation which provides retreats and conferences for autistic people.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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\n <\/p>\n
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Contact us<\/h2>\n
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If you have any questions, please get in touch.<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar
Email: ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\nProf Emma Gowen
Email: emma.gowen@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Contact Us<\/h4>\n
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ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”University contact title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
University contact<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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0161 306 6000<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
Find Us<\/h4>\n
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The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
Connect With Us<\/h4>\n
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Understanding optometric and orthoptic conditions in autistic adults, without learning disabilities, and how eye examinations can be made more accessible. Are you an autistic adult? See how you can prepare for your eye examination: Patient resources. Are you an eyecare provider? See our award-winning recommendations on how you can provide […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1420"}],"version-history":[{"count":130,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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Are you an eyecare provider?<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Eyecare provider resources” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
See our award-winning recommendations on how you can provide autism-friendly services<\/h2>\nEyecare provider resources<\/a>.<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Project background<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Project details – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
Sensory issues have a severe impact on the lives of many autistic people and their ability to communicate and function, leading to stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n
Our project aimed to better understand vision and eye conditions in autistic adults who do not have learning disabilities.<\/p>\n
To achieve this, we conducted a number of studies that included focus groups, interviews, online questionnaires and eye examinations with autistic adults. The studies took place between September 2018 and December 2021 as part of Ketan’s PhD project. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The eye conditions we investigated included:<\/p>\n
\n- visual sensory issues (or hypersensitivity\/ sensory overload);<\/li>\n
- problems with level of vision;<\/li>\n
- the need for spectacles;<\/li>\n
- issues with the coordination of the eyes (for example, a lazy eye).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why was this project important?” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
If not treated correctly, eye conditions affect a person\u2019s quality of life. Research suggests that, among autistic people, there are more people who need spectacles and experience eye coordination problems.<\/p>\n
However, the majority of existing research focuses on autistic children with learning disabilities rather than the population of autistic people as a whole.<\/p>\n
Vision problems are common among people with learning disabilities so, from this existing research, it is difficult to determine whether autism is specifically related to eye conditions. We therefore needed to do research to understand if certain eye conditions are more common in autistic adults without learning difficulties.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”What were the aims of this project?” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
This project aimed to:<\/p>\n
\n- find out which visual issues and symptoms are experienced by autistic adults;<\/li>\n
- investigate how treatment impacts vision, visual symptoms and quality of life;<\/li>\n
- develop guidelines, training and changes in policies for optometrists to make eye examinations and practice environments more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Our studies” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
We conducted 3 studies with a total of 364 autistic adults:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/b>Study 1 – focus groups<\/b><\/strong>: To understand how eye conditions impact autistic adults\u2019 daily lives and discussing their experiences of eye examinations.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 2 – online questionnaire<\/b><\/strong>: To investigate whether anxiety is a barrier to accessing eye examinations for autistic adults.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 3 – eye examinations and interviews<\/b><\/strong>: To describe eye conditions (for example, a requirement for spectacles, variations in eye muscle balance and perceptual issues) in autistic adults. To explore how eye examinations can be made more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Read more about our studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Meet the team<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Our team members – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
This study was carried out by members of the Body, Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, along with an expert advisory team of autistic people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Our team members<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Ketan Parmar” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar is an optometrist by profession, having graduated from The University of Manchester with a master’s degree in 2018. In summer 2022, he completed his PhD in autism, vision and accessible eyecare, working closely with autistic adults.<\/p>\n
He is currently a Lecturer in Advanced Clinical Optometric Practice at Manchester, and continues his research into autism and accessible eyecare. In 2025, he was awarded the College of Optometrists’ George Giles Postgraduate Research Award for his research into eyecare accessibility for autistic people and subsequent recommendations.<\/p>\n
View Dr Parmar’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Emma Gowen ” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Emma is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at The University of Manchester and co-directs the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab, researching sensory motor control in autistic adults. She chairs the co-production network, Autism@Manchester, which aims to produce quality research with real meaning for autistic people.<\/p>\n
Emma is a keen advocate of participatory research, with much of her research benefitting from involvement and co-partnership of the autistic community.<\/p>\n
View Prof Gowen\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Chris Dickinson” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Professor Chris Dickinson is Professor of Clinical Optometry. Chris\u2019s main research interest is in low vision, and how individuals with low vision can be helped in their everyday life.<\/p>\n
Her work often involves investigating the effectiveness of different types of visual aids. <\/p>\n
View Prof Dickinson\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Catherine Porter” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Dr Catherine Porter is a Senior Lecturer in Optometry at The University of Manchester where she teaches binocular vision and further investigative techniques. Her PhD was entitled An Investigation of Reading in Dyslexia and she continues to have a specialist interest in patients with reading difficulties, binocular vision problems and those with visual stress.<\/p>\n
She has presented workshops and lectures nationally and internationally on clinical aspects of binocular vision, and has authored several continuing education and training articles on the same topic.<\/p>\n
View Dr Porter’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Peter Baimbridge” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Peter Baimbridge is an autistic adult with a career in technical sales and marketing and business management. Since diagnosis in 2011 he has created Salford Autism, a unique autism support group led and run by people with their own diagnosis of autism. The group works in the community with all types and ages of autistic people and their families to achieve effective solutions to the practical problems they experience living with autism.<\/p>\n
Peter joined Autism@Manchester in 2015 to add a voice for the autistic population and inform research from his own unique perspective and personal experience, as well as his experience of the problems of others.<\/p>\n
In 2016, he became Coordinator of Autism@Manchester and was acknowledged by The University of Manchester as an honorary visiting academic. Peter was diagnosed with diabetes in early 1992 and so has had annual eye checks at a local optician\u2019s practice since then.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”James Pelham” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
James Pelham was diagnosed with autism in April 2015 at Sheffield Adult Neurodevelopmental Service.<\/p>\n
Since then he has immersed himself in study about autism and has taken part in many research trials, in the hope that it will improve life for other autistic people.<\/p>\n
He holds a joint honours degree from The University of Manchester in French and Russian and several diplomas in music performance and theory.<\/p>\n
James is an active performer and composer. He is also a Director on the board of Autscape<\/a>, an autistic-led organisation which provides retreats and conferences for autistic people.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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\n <\/p>\n
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Contact us<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Contact us” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
If you have any questions, please get in touch.<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar
Email: ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\nProf Emma Gowen
Email: emma.gowen@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Contact Us<\/h4>\n
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ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”University contact title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
University contact<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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0161 306 6000<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
Find Us<\/h4>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
Connect With Us<\/h4>\n
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[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Understanding optometric and orthoptic conditions in autistic adults, without learning disabilities, and how eye examinations can be made more accessible. Are you an autistic adult? See how you can prepare for your eye examination: Patient resources. Are you an eyecare provider? See our award-winning recommendations on how you can provide […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1420"}],"version-history":[{"count":130,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Eyecare provider resources<\/a>.<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Project background<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Project details – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
Sensory issues have a severe impact on the lives of many autistic people and their ability to communicate and function, leading to stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n
Our project aimed to better understand vision and eye conditions in autistic adults who do not have learning disabilities.<\/p>\n
To achieve this, we conducted a number of studies that included focus groups, interviews, online questionnaires and eye examinations with autistic adults. The studies took place between September 2018 and December 2021 as part of Ketan’s PhD project. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The eye conditions we investigated included:<\/p>\n
\n- visual sensory issues (or hypersensitivity\/ sensory overload);<\/li>\n
- problems with level of vision;<\/li>\n
- the need for spectacles;<\/li>\n
- issues with the coordination of the eyes (for example, a lazy eye).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why was this project important?” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
If not treated correctly, eye conditions affect a person\u2019s quality of life. Research suggests that, among autistic people, there are more people who need spectacles and experience eye coordination problems.<\/p>\n
However, the majority of existing research focuses on autistic children with learning disabilities rather than the population of autistic people as a whole.<\/p>\n
Vision problems are common among people with learning disabilities so, from this existing research, it is difficult to determine whether autism is specifically related to eye conditions. We therefore needed to do research to understand if certain eye conditions are more common in autistic adults without learning difficulties.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”What were the aims of this project?” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
This project aimed to:<\/p>\n
\n- find out which visual issues and symptoms are experienced by autistic adults;<\/li>\n
- investigate how treatment impacts vision, visual symptoms and quality of life;<\/li>\n
- develop guidelines, training and changes in policies for optometrists to make eye examinations and practice environments more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Our studies” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
We conducted 3 studies with a total of 364 autistic adults:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/b>Study 1 – focus groups<\/b><\/strong>: To understand how eye conditions impact autistic adults\u2019 daily lives and discussing their experiences of eye examinations.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 2 – online questionnaire<\/b><\/strong>: To investigate whether anxiety is a barrier to accessing eye examinations for autistic adults.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 3 – eye examinations and interviews<\/b><\/strong>: To describe eye conditions (for example, a requirement for spectacles, variations in eye muscle balance and perceptual issues) in autistic adults. To explore how eye examinations can be made more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Read more about our studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Meet the team<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Our team members – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
This study was carried out by members of the Body, Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, along with an expert advisory team of autistic people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Our team members<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Ketan Parmar” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar is an optometrist by profession, having graduated from The University of Manchester with a master’s degree in 2018. In summer 2022, he completed his PhD in autism, vision and accessible eyecare, working closely with autistic adults.<\/p>\n
He is currently a Lecturer in Advanced Clinical Optometric Practice at Manchester, and continues his research into autism and accessible eyecare. In 2025, he was awarded the College of Optometrists’ George Giles Postgraduate Research Award for his research into eyecare accessibility for autistic people and subsequent recommendations.<\/p>\n
View Dr Parmar’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Emma Gowen ” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Emma is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at The University of Manchester and co-directs the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab, researching sensory motor control in autistic adults. She chairs the co-production network, Autism@Manchester, which aims to produce quality research with real meaning for autistic people.<\/p>\n
Emma is a keen advocate of participatory research, with much of her research benefitting from involvement and co-partnership of the autistic community.<\/p>\n
View Prof Gowen\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Chris Dickinson” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Professor Chris Dickinson is Professor of Clinical Optometry. Chris\u2019s main research interest is in low vision, and how individuals with low vision can be helped in their everyday life.<\/p>\n
Her work often involves investigating the effectiveness of different types of visual aids. <\/p>\n
View Prof Dickinson\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Catherine Porter” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Dr Catherine Porter is a Senior Lecturer in Optometry at The University of Manchester where she teaches binocular vision and further investigative techniques. Her PhD was entitled An Investigation of Reading in Dyslexia and she continues to have a specialist interest in patients with reading difficulties, binocular vision problems and those with visual stress.<\/p>\n
She has presented workshops and lectures nationally and internationally on clinical aspects of binocular vision, and has authored several continuing education and training articles on the same topic.<\/p>\n
View Dr Porter’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Peter Baimbridge” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Peter Baimbridge is an autistic adult with a career in technical sales and marketing and business management. Since diagnosis in 2011 he has created Salford Autism, a unique autism support group led and run by people with their own diagnosis of autism. The group works in the community with all types and ages of autistic people and their families to achieve effective solutions to the practical problems they experience living with autism.<\/p>\n
Peter joined Autism@Manchester in 2015 to add a voice for the autistic population and inform research from his own unique perspective and personal experience, as well as his experience of the problems of others.<\/p>\n
In 2016, he became Coordinator of Autism@Manchester and was acknowledged by The University of Manchester as an honorary visiting academic. Peter was diagnosed with diabetes in early 1992 and so has had annual eye checks at a local optician\u2019s practice since then.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”James Pelham” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
James Pelham was diagnosed with autism in April 2015 at Sheffield Adult Neurodevelopmental Service.<\/p>\n
Since then he has immersed himself in study about autism and has taken part in many research trials, in the hope that it will improve life for other autistic people.<\/p>\n
He holds a joint honours degree from The University of Manchester in French and Russian and several diplomas in music performance and theory.<\/p>\n
James is an active performer and composer. He is also a Director on the board of Autscape<\/a>, an autistic-led organisation which provides retreats and conferences for autistic people.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Contact us<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Contact us” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
If you have any questions, please get in touch.<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar
Email: ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\nProf Emma Gowen
Email: emma.gowen@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Contact Us<\/h4>\n
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ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”University contact title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
University contact<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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0161 306 6000<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
Find Us<\/h4>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
Connect With Us<\/h4>\n
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[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Understanding optometric and orthoptic conditions in autistic adults, without learning disabilities, and how eye examinations can be made more accessible. Are you an autistic adult? See how you can prepare for your eye examination: Patient resources. Are you an eyecare provider? See our award-winning recommendations on how you can provide […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1420"}],"version-history":[{"count":130,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why was this project important?” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
If not treated correctly, eye conditions affect a person\u2019s quality of life. Research suggests that, among autistic people, there are more people who need spectacles and experience eye coordination problems.<\/p>\n
However, the majority of existing research focuses on autistic children with learning disabilities rather than the population of autistic people as a whole.<\/p>\n
Vision problems are common among people with learning disabilities so, from this existing research, it is difficult to determine whether autism is specifically related to eye conditions. We therefore needed to do research to understand if certain eye conditions are more common in autistic adults without learning difficulties.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”What were the aims of this project?” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
This project aimed to:<\/p>\n
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- find out which visual issues and symptoms are experienced by autistic adults;<\/li>\n
- investigate how treatment impacts vision, visual symptoms and quality of life;<\/li>\n
- develop guidelines, training and changes in policies for optometrists to make eye examinations and practice environments more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Our studies” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
We conducted 3 studies with a total of 364 autistic adults:<\/p>\n
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- <\/b>Study 1 – focus groups<\/b><\/strong>: To understand how eye conditions impact autistic adults\u2019 daily lives and discussing their experiences of eye examinations.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 2 – online questionnaire<\/b><\/strong>: To investigate whether anxiety is a barrier to accessing eye examinations for autistic adults.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 3 – eye examinations and interviews<\/b><\/strong>: To describe eye conditions (for example, a requirement for spectacles, variations in eye muscle balance and perceptual issues) in autistic adults. To explore how eye examinations can be made more autism-friendly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Read more about our studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Meet the team<\/h2>\n
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This study was carried out by members of the Body, Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, along with an expert advisory team of autistic people.<\/p>\n
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Our team members<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Ketan Parmar” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar is an optometrist by profession, having graduated from The University of Manchester with a master’s degree in 2018. In summer 2022, he completed his PhD in autism, vision and accessible eyecare, working closely with autistic adults.<\/p>\nHe is currently a Lecturer in Advanced Clinical Optometric Practice at Manchester, and continues his research into autism and accessible eyecare. In 2025, he was awarded the College of Optometrists’ George Giles Postgraduate Research Award for his research into eyecare accessibility for autistic people and subsequent recommendations.<\/p>\n
View Dr Parmar’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Emma Gowen ” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Emma is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at The University of Manchester and co-directs the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab, researching sensory motor control in autistic adults. She chairs the co-production network, Autism@Manchester, which aims to produce quality research with real meaning for autistic people.<\/p>\nEmma is a keen advocate of participatory research, with much of her research benefitting from involvement and co-partnership of the autistic community.<\/p>\n
View Prof Gowen\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Prof Chris Dickinson” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Professor Chris Dickinson is Professor of Clinical Optometry. Chris\u2019s main research interest is in low vision, and how individuals with low vision can be helped in their everyday life.<\/p>\nHer work often involves investigating the effectiveness of different types of visual aids. <\/p>\n
View Prof Dickinson\u2019s research profile<\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Dr Catherine Porter” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Dr Catherine Porter is a Senior Lecturer in Optometry at The University of Manchester where she teaches binocular vision and further investigative techniques. Her PhD was entitled An Investigation of Reading in Dyslexia and she continues to have a specialist interest in patients with reading difficulties, binocular vision problems and those with visual stress.<\/p>\nShe has presented workshops and lectures nationally and internationally on clinical aspects of binocular vision, and has authored several continuing education and training articles on the same topic.<\/p>\n
View Dr Porter’s profile<\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Peter Baimbridge” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
Peter Baimbridge is an autistic adult with a career in technical sales and marketing and business management. Since diagnosis in 2011 he has created Salford Autism, a unique autism support group led and run by people with their own diagnosis of autism. The group works in the community with all types and ages of autistic people and their families to achieve effective solutions to the practical problems they experience living with autism.<\/p>\nPeter joined Autism@Manchester in 2015 to add a voice for the autistic population and inform research from his own unique perspective and personal experience, as well as his experience of the problems of others.<\/p>\n
In 2016, he became Coordinator of Autism@Manchester and was acknowledged by The University of Manchester as an honorary visiting academic. Peter was diagnosed with diabetes in early 1992 and so has had annual eye checks at a local optician\u2019s practice since then.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”James Pelham” open=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
James Pelham was diagnosed with autism in April 2015 at Sheffield Adult Neurodevelopmental Service.<\/p>\nSince then he has immersed himself in study about autism and has taken part in many research trials, in the hope that it will improve life for other autistic people.<\/p>\n
He holds a joint honours degree from The University of Manchester in French and Russian and several diplomas in music performance and theory.<\/p>\n
James is an active performer and composer. He is also a Director on the board of Autscape<\/a>, an autistic-led organisation which provides retreats and conferences for autistic people.<\/p>\n
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Contact us<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Contact us” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
If you have any questions, please get in touch.<\/p>\n
Dr Ketan Parmar
Email: ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\nProf Emma Gowen
Email: emma.gowen@manchester.ac.uk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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ketan.parmar@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
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0161 306 6000<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n
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Understanding optometric and orthoptic conditions in autistic adults, without learning disabilities, and how eye examinations can be made more accessible. Are you an autistic adult? See how you can prepare for your eye examination: Patient resources. Are you an eyecare provider? See our award-winning recommendations on how you can provide […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1420"}],"version-history":[{"count":130,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1420\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/autism-and-vision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- <\/b>Study 2 – online questionnaire<\/b><\/strong>: To investigate whether anxiety is a barrier to accessing eye examinations for autistic adults.<\/li>\n
- <\/b>Study 1 – focus groups<\/b><\/strong>: To understand how eye conditions impact autistic adults\u2019 daily lives and discussing their experiences of eye examinations.<\/li>\n