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Eye-Tracking Study Detects Brain Differences More Than a Decade After Concussions in Veterans

Researchers say specialized testing exposes covert deficits unseen on routine imaging.

Overview

  • Peer-reviewed results were published in March 2026 in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
  • The study evaluated 78 U.S. veterans—38 with prior mild traumatic brain injury and 40 without—using demanding eye-movement tasks and cognitive tests.
  • Those with concussion histories showed slower, less accurate eye movements and reduced performance on attention-based tasks, with some effects persisting beyond 10 years.
  • Investigators report that objective eye-movement assessments can quantify ongoing concerns when standard scans appear normal, supporting more precise rehabilitation planning.
  • Authors urge larger, more diverse validation studies before routine clinical adoption and disclose funding from the Department of Defense Vision Research Program.