Oculomotor Behaviour in Individuals with Long COVID-19

Abstract

Objective To determine, the impact of long COVID-19 on oculomotor behaviour. Design A case–control study. Setting Spanish Association of Persistent COVID. Participant Participants were 75 cases (64 women, 11 men, mean age 46.4 years ±8.9) and 42 controls (22 women, 20 men, mean age 53.5 years ±13.13). Intervention An eye-tracking test based on visual search paradigm and the Adult Developmental Eye Movement Test were used to evaluate the participants. Main measures The primary outcomes in the Adult Developmental Eye Movement Test were horizontal reading time, vertical reading time, and their ratio. And for the eye-tracking test the time to find the target, the duration, and the number of eye fixations. Results In cases and controls, eye movement test results were horizontal(Hadj) reading time 74.2 ± 22.7 s vs 52.0 ± 6.1 s ( p < .0001); vertical(Vadj) reading time 67.6 ± 17.8 s vs 50.4 ± 6.9 s ( p < .0001); Hadj/Vadj ratio 0.9 ± 0.1 vs 1.0 ± 0 ( p = .0032), respectively; and eye-tracking test results were fixation number 11.3 ± 3.07 vs 3.51 ± 2.57 ( p < .0001); fixation duration 2.01 ± 0.79 s vs 1.5 ± 0.4 s ( p = .0013), and time to find target 24.5 ± 8.0 vs 18 ± 9.4 ( p = .0034), respectively. Conclusions Data showed a lower performance in oculomotor behaviour in people with long COVID-19, compared to healthy individuals. It cannot be affirmed an ocular musculature dysfunction; the differentiated behaviour could be associated to cognitive alterations affected in these people. Both tests used could be an useful tool for the clinical assessment of these participants. Further studies are needed to explore the utility of these procedures.