Objective: The objective of our study is to determine whether differences in oculomotor function and blink rate correlate to the off-and on- medication state in a cohort of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Quantitative assessment of eye movements may be a simple, reliable and sensitive clinical biomarker for PD but the effect of levodopa on naturalistic eye movements. We use a free-viewing task where participants are instructed to watch a series of brief video clips presented on a computer monitor while recording their eye movements and blink rate. A recently identified signature of oculomotor parameters in PD may differentiate it from other neurodegenerative conditions. This study focuses on whether these parameters correlate with the off- and on- state relating to levodopa therapy.

Method: A cohort of 17 patients with PD performed a free viewing paradigm in addition to detailed clinical examination including MDS-UPDRS III. The task was performed after overnight withdrawal of levodopa for the previous 12 hours and subsequently in the on-state after a levodopa challenge test. Correlation between saccade amplitude and velocity and blink rate with MDS-United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and cognitive scales were undertaken. This study was funded by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Results: We demonstrate differences in oculomotor function between the off-state and on-state in the PD cohort.

Conclusion: This study suggests that oculomotor dynamics and blink rate in PD have utility as clinically relevant measures which correlate with the off– and on-levodopa state.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/free-viewing-eye-tracking-and-the-effect-of-levodopa-in-parkinsons-disease/