Review: Emerging Eye-Based Diagnostic Technologies for Traumatic Brain Injury.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Ophthalmology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a global health crisis with no effective diagnostic tools, necessitating early intervention for better patient outcomes.
• Ocular manifestations of neurodegenerative disorders (Oculomics) present a promising avenue for early TBI detection and prognosis.
• Current diagnostic methods for TBI are limited, highlighting an urgent need for rapid, accurate point-of-care solutions.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes recent advancements in understanding TBI neuropathophysiology and evaluates current diagnostic techniques.
• It explores validated and emerging TBI biomarkers, linking them to ocular neuro-disorders.
• Methods for detecting structural and chemical ocular responses to TBI are categorized, alongside prospective sensing technologies.

Key Points:

• Ocular biomarkers offer a non-invasive window into TBI-induced neurodegeneration.
• Raman spectroscopy demonstrates potential for detecting neurological molecular signatures in ocular tissues.
• This technique could pave the way for novel point-of-care TBI diagnostic tools.

Conclusions:

• Oculomics, particularly through advanced sensing like Raman spectroscopy, holds significant potential for revolutionizing TBI diagnostics.
• Developing non-invasive, rapid point-of-care TBI tests is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality.
• Further research into ocular biomarkers and sensing technologies is warranted to realize the full potential of TBI diagnostics.