Versional eye tracking in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI): effects of oculomotor training (OMT).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a range of objective measures of versional eye movements before and after oculomotor training (OMT) in individuals with mTBI. The results were compared with placebo (P) training.

METHODS: Twelve individuals with mTBI (mean age = 29 ± 3 years) having oculomotor-based near-vision symptoms participated in the study. Versional eye movements were recorded objectively before and after OMT (fixation, predictable saccades, simulated reading) and P training (6 weeks each, two sessions/week, 45 minutes/session).

RESULTS: Following OMT, there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the horizontal fixational error. Saccadic gain increased both horizontally and vertically (p < 0.05). The saccade ratio for the simulated reading, multiple-line paradigm reduced significantly (p < 0.05). None of the measures changed significantly following the P training.

CONCLUSIONS: The versional-based OMT had a significant, positive effect on most aspects of versional tracking. These findings are suggestive of improved rhythmicity, accuracy and sequencing of saccades following OMT in mTBI as a result of oculomotor learning.