Rehabilitation Oculomotor Screening Evaluation in Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) frequently cause oculomotor dysfunctions, impairing daily activities.
• Existing clinical screening tools for TBI-related oculomotor issues are insufficient.
• The Rehabilitation Oculomotor Screening Evaluation (ROSE) was developed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Rehabilitation Oculomotor Screening Evaluation (ROSE) specifically in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
• To assess the efficacy of ROSE in detecting oculomotor dysfunction post-TBI.

Main Methods:

• Participants with TBI (n=25) and neurotypical controls (n=24) were recruited.
• The TBI group completed ROSE, alongside scales for balance (SOT), daily function (RNLI), mobility (TUG), and visual vertigo.
• Neurotypical participants completed only ROSE for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Individuals with mTBI demonstrated significantly higher ROSE scores than neurotypical controls, indicating greater oculomotor dysfunction.
• A large effect size was observed, underscoring the robustness of the finding.
• ROSE scores correlated significantly with the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI), suggesting functional relevance.

Conclusions:

• The significant differences in ROSE scores between groups confirm its validity for detecting oculomotor dysfunction in TBI.
• The association with RNLI scores highlights the clinical utility of ROSE in assessing functional impact.
• Further validation in larger and diverse neurological populations is recommended.