Authors:
Margarida Henriques
1
;
Maria Mendes
2
;
Ana Martins
2
;
Carla Quintão
1
;
3
and
Cláudia Quaresma
1
;
3
Affiliations:
1
Physics Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology – FCT NOVA, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
;
2
Neurology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, 2805-267 Almada, Portugal
;
3
LIBPhys-UNL, Physics Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology – FCT NOVA, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Multiple Sclerosis, Visuomotor Skills, Eye Tracker.
Abstract:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the most prevalent immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease affecting the Central Nervous System (CNS), has an estimated global incidence of 2,8 million individuals. Although its symptomatology is highly varied and unpredictable, depending on the lesions’ location in the CNS, visual impairments are among the most common manifestations. However, conventional methods for assessing and rehabilitating visuomotor competences are not sufficient to deliver objective assessments or personalized therapies. The current study addresses this gap by adapting and testing the RehabVisual platform’s usability in MS patients. RehabVisual, developed in previous studies, aims to objectively assess visuomotor skills through an integrated low-cost eye tracking system, offering specific clinical intervention. Before clinical application, a normative base was established using 50 healthy individuals for later comparison. The experimental group comprised 25 MS patients wit
h and without confirmed visuomotor alterations. The protocol involved viewing three visual stimuli for later calculation of the mean Euclidean distance between the gaze and stimulus positions using the eye tracker, for further assessment of the patients’ performance in tracking the stimulus. The findings confirmed diagnosed visual impairments, along with their quantification and storage for monitoring and rehabilitation purposes, highlighting the platform’s potential as an auxiliary tool for healthcare professionals.
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