The Automatic Retinal Image Analysis (ARIA) technology is developed to assess the risk of autism spectrum disorder (Autism). Study results show that autism subjects have significantly larger optic disc diameter and larger optic cup diameter. The sensitivity and specificity of this technology to identify autism were 96% and 91% respectively.
The use of retinal image analysis is non-invasive, fully automatic and relatively convenient. Retinal images can be obtained from very young children to assess their risk of suffering from autism. This technique provides an objective screening method that can be implemented in a community setting and provides an efficient tool to assess the risk before clinical and behavioural assessment.