Objective: The objective of our study is to determine whether differences in saccade amplitude/velocity in combination with pupillary dynamics and blink rate in a cohort of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) correlate with clinical measures of disease.
Background: Clinically relevant measures which can track clinical progression in PD are urgently needed. Quantitative assessment of eye movements may be a simple, reliable and sensitive clinical biomarker for PD. Our study employs a novel free-viewing task where participants are instructed to watch a number of brief video clips presented on a computer monitor while we record their eye movements and pupillary responses. A recently identified signature of oculomotor parameters in PD may differentiate it from other neurodegenerative conditions. This study focuses on whether these saccade, pupil, and blink parameters correlate with motor and non-motor features of PD.
Method: A cohort of 50 Irish patients with PD performed a free viewing paradigm in addition to detailed clinical data collection. Saccade amplitude and velocity, pupillary dynamics and blink rate were correlated with MDS-United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Frontal Assessment Battery, Non-Motor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson’s Disease, New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II and Beck Anxiety Inventory.
Results: Oculographic and pupillary data correlated with disease severity and clinical features. A reduction in saccade amplitude was associated with a longer duration of PD symptoms as well as higher H&Y and MDS-UPDRS scores. Pupillary dynamics and blink rate also varied with symptom duration, UPDRS and MoCA score in patients with PD in addition to a number of non-motor features.
Conclusion: This study suggests that saccades, pupillary dynamics and blink rate in PD have utility as clinically relevant measures [DM1] used to track disease progression.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Gallagher, H. Elliott, J. Inocentes, B. Coe, D. Brien, B. White, H. Riek, R. Walsh, T. Lynch, R. Reilly, D. Munoz, C. Fearon. Free-viewing eye tracking in Parkinson’s disease and correlation with clinical features [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2023; 38 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/free-viewing-eye-tracking-in-parkinsons-disease-and-correlation-with-clinical-features/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2023 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/free-viewing-eye-tracking-in-parkinsons-disease-and-correlation-with-clinical-features/