why do most autistic people need glasses

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Many people on the spectrum have an intense interest in their favourite things. That means that they're likely to do a lot of research by reading books and looking up info on those subjects. All that time in front of the screen could put a lot of strain on the eyes. That's why it seems that there are more autistic people who need glasses.

There were no computer screens when I was a kid. Only TV screens.

Perhaps, there is a higher incidence of autistic folks having unusual vision problems......but uncomplicated nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are very common in the general population.

Having uncomplicated nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism causes folks to need glasses or contact lenses.

You wasn't trying to shut down the discussion.

It is true that glasses are common in NTs too, but for some reason it does seem that a lot of people on the spectrum seem to need (permanent) glasses from a young age (like I'm not talking about people over 40).

In the children's TV show "Arthur" the autistic character, Carl, wore glasses (yes I know Arthur did and he was NT but...you know). And I've often watched documentaries of autism that had autistic teenagers and young adults wearing glasses.
And glasses are brought up a lot on WP too like the majority of people here wear them or have always wore them.

It just seems like there's a commonality of glasses wearing among the autistic community, that's all. And also the same with downs syndrome too, like the OP pointed out.

Many people not on the Spectrum, but under 40, also need glasses for uncomplicated nearsightedness.

I just don’t believe it’s very much more common for Spectrumites to need glasses than for NTs to need glasses.

Errr I wasn't saying you were. But you said there is no correlation between the two so (judging from the history of past threads) I assumed this was a prelude to closing shop and nothing to see here.

All good carry on folks...

I had excellent eyesight until a few years ago. Both long and short distance. Then around 45 years old my short distance vision became a problem. Using cheap store bought glasses has made them much worse

Funnily enough I'm not the sort of Aspie to correlate everything with autism, but I feel differently about the glasses thing.

I don’t believe there’s a correlation between the two.

Stating opinions shouldn’t stifle discussion.

Fair enough

My AS mother didn't need them. I might not have needed them early if someone had just told me WHY they advised against looking at things so close. For most of my life, I was glad to have them as safety glasses, etc. It took me years to realize that my range of focus was going down, affecting my precision work.

I did a lot for reading and looking at screens. I had excellent vision for most of my life.

But the idea that reading and looking at screens will damage your eyes is a myth (Google it). You can get eye strain, but that is not permanent.

What I find disturbing is that the this need for glasses as an autistic trait falls into the geek stereotype. I guess I am tired of the Sheldon Cooper autistic geek thing (although ironically, Cooper does not wear glasses).

I can only speak for myself, but I need glasses because of genetics. My brother, both my parents, and both their parents all need glasses, I know that at least in my immediate family everyone first got glasses when we were pretty young (childhood for my mom and me, at least). I’m the only one on the autism spectrum. So in my case, it seems pretty silly to try to blame it on my autism or anything related to it. But I suppose my family would be a better set for the question “are people who need glasses more likely to be autistic” rather than the other way around.

I have been wearing glasses since I was 18. I just got a new pair because I needed a new pair so I got my eyes checked again since the place I go to does it for free. They make their money from selling glasses is why and contact.

For a while I had glasses to help me see stuff like further away...but I didn't stick to wearing them and didn't seem like I really needed them and idk having them on kept feeling weird so yeah didn't stick to that and I do not wear any glasses now.

It's complicated.

Yes, Autism could = glasses.

However, autism habits / interests / behaviours could also = sight deterioration = glasses.

One is a fixed relationship, the other rather more variable.

And that's before we factor in things like age and other health conditions.

I conform to the stereotype here, I wear glasses all the time. Putting my glasses on is the first thing I do in the morning, and taking them off is the last thing I do at night.

If I lose my glasses I can't see well enough to find them again.

But I have had autoimmune diabetes for 41 years. And I'm a sample group of one.