Reading eye movements in traumatic brain injury

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the reading eye movements in subjects with traumatic brain injury (TBI) using ReadAlyzer. ReadAlyzer is an objective eye movement recording device that tracks the eye movements while reading. METHODS: Reading eye movements were measured using ReadAlyzer in 30 subjects with TBI (mild, moderate and severe) who had binocular vision and reading related symptoms and 60 asymptomatic controls. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in reading eye movement parameters in subjects with TBI compared to controls. Reading eye movement parameters are represented in median and interquartile range (IQR). Subjects with TBI presented with an increased number of fixations/100 words (median 137, IQR 106–159) and regressions/100 words (24, 12–36), and reduced reading rate (154, 128–173) words per minute. They also had a lesser grade level equivalent (4.0, 3.0–7.0) and reduced comprehension (70, 60–80) percentage compared to controls (Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.05). Reading eye movement parameters were also significantly affected in mild and moderate-severe TBI subjects compared to controls (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Reading eye movement performance using ReadAlyzer was found to be decreased in traumatic brain injury. Reading assessment may serve as a clinical measure to understand the oculomotor system following TBI.