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Updated: Aug 15, 2025
Objectively Assessing Sports Concussion Utilizing Visual Evoked Potentials
Published on: April 27, 2021
Evaluation and Utility of the King-Devick With Integrated Eye Tracking as a Diagnostic Tool for Sport-Related
Mark Hecimovich1, Myles Murphy2, Paola Chivers3
1Department of Athletic Training, 003C Human Performance Center, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA.
Background:
Eye-tracking technology for detecting eye movements has been gaining increasing attention as a possible assessment and monitoring tool for sport-related concussion (SRC).
Purpose:
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid number-naming task with eye tracking, the King-Devick Eye Tracking (K-D ET) assessment, in identifying SRC.
Study Design:
Cohort study.
Methods:
One female and 1 male team of United States collegiate rugby-15 players competing during the 2018 season were recruited. Variables assessed were total saccades, saccade velocity, total fixations, fixation duration, fixation polyarea, and test duration. A generalized estimating equation was used to examine group (concussion vs nonconcussion), time (baseline vs postinjury/postseason), and sex-based differences for each outcome measure. In addition, the different components of diagnostic accuracy of the K-D ET were calculated.
Results:
Baseline K-D ET assessment for 49 participants (25 male, 24 female) were assessed at the beginning of the season, with 28 participants who did not sustain a head injury during the season completing the postseason assessments and 6 participants completing a postinjury (suspected concussion) assessment. Significant differences were observed between concussed and nonconcussed groups for total saccades (P = .024), fixation duration (P = .007), and fixation polyarea (P = .030), with differences from baseline to follow-up observed for saccade velocity (P = .018) in both groups. Sex-based differences were noted for total fixations (P = .041), fixation polyarea (P = .036), and completion time (P = .035). No significant Group × Time interactions were noted. The K-D ET test duration indicated high specificity (0.86) but not high sensitivity (0.40). No other variables reported high sensitivity or specificity.
Conclusion:
Other than completion time of the K-D ET test, no K-D ET oculomotor parameter was highly sensitive or specific in the diagnosis of concussion in this study.
