Analyses of eye movement parameters in children with anisometropic amblyopia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of eye movement in children with anisometropic amblyopia, and to compare those characteristics with eye movement in a control group. METHODS: 31 children in the anisometropic amblyopia group (31 amblyopic eyes in group A, 31 contralateral eyes in group B) and 24 children in the control group (48 eyes in group C). Group A was subdivided into groups Aa (severe amblyopia) and Ab (mild-moderate amblyopia). The overall age range was 6-12 years (mean, 7.83 ± 1.79 years). All children underwent ophthalmic examinations; eye movement parameters including saccade latency and amplitude were evaluated using an Eyelink1000 eye tracker. Data Viewer and MATLAB software were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Mean and maximum saccade latencies, as well as mean and maximum saccade amplitudes, were significantly greater in group A than in groups B and C before and after treatment (P < 0.05). Mean and maximum saccade latencies were significantly different among groups Aa, Ab, and C (P < 0.05). Pupil trajectories in two detection modes suggested that binocular fixation was better than monocular fixation. CONCLUSIONS: Eye movement parameters significantly differed between contralateral normal eyes and control eyes. Clinical evaluation of children with anisometropic amblyopia should not focus only on static visual acuity, but also on the assessment of eye movement.

Neural correlates for word-frequency effect in Chinese natural reading.

Word frequency effect has always been of interest for reading research because of its critical role in exploring mental processing underlying reading behaviors. Access to word frequency information has long been considered an indicator of the beginning of lexical processing and the most sensitive marker for studying when the brain begins to extract semantic information Sereno & Rayner, Brain and Cognition, 42, 78-81, (2000), Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 7, 489-493, (2003). While the word frequency effect has been extensively studied in numerous eye-tracking and traditional EEG research using the RSVP paradigm, there is a lack of corresponding evidence in studies of natural reading. To find the neural correlates of the word frequency effect, we conducted a study of Chinese natural reading using EEG and eye-tracking coregistration to examine the time course of lexical processing. Our results reliably showed that the word frequency effect first appeared in the N200 time window and the bilateral occipitotemporal regions. Additionally, the word frequency effect was reflected in the N400 time window, spreading from the occipital region to the central parietal and frontal regions. Our current study provides the first neural correlates for word-frequency effect in natural Chinese reading so far, shedding new light on understanding lexical processing in natural reading and could serve as an important basis for further reading study when considering neural correlates in a realistic manner.

Narcolepsy and rapid eye movement sleep.

Since the first description of narcolepsy at the end of the 19th Century, great progress has been made. The disease is nowadays distinguished as narcolepsy type 1 and type 2. In the 1960s, the discovery of rapid eye movement sleep at sleep onset led to improved understanding of core sleep-related disease symptoms of the disease (excessive daytime sleepiness with early occurrence of rapid eye movement sleep, sleep-related hallucinations, sleep paralysis, rapid eye movement parasomnia), as possible dysregulation of rapid eye movement sleep, and cataplexy resembling an intrusion of rapid eye movement atonia during wake. The relevance of non-sleep-related symptoms, such as obesity, precocious puberty, psychiatric and cardiovascular morbidities, has subsequently been recognized. The diagnostic tools have been improved, but sleep-onset rapid eye movement periods on polysomnography and Multiple Sleep Latency Test remain key criteria. The pathogenic mechanisms of narcolepsy type 1 have been partly elucidated after the discovery of strong HLA class II association and orexin/hypocretin deficiency, a neurotransmitter that is involved in altered rapid eye movement sleep regulation. Conversely, the causes of narcolepsy type 2, where cataplexy and orexin deficiency are absent, remain unknown. Symptomatic medications to treat patients with narcolepsy have been developed, and management has been codified with guidelines, until the recent promising orexin-receptor agonists. The present review retraces the steps of the research on narcolepsy that linked the features of the disease with rapid eye movement sleep abnormality, and those that do not appear associated with rapid eye movement sleep.

Investigating the role of flight phase and task difficulty on low-time pilot performance, gaze dynamics and subjective situation awareness during simulated flight.

Gaze behaviour has been used as a proxy for information processing capabilities that underlie complex skill performance in real-world domains such as aviation. These processes are highly influenced by task requirements, expertise and can provide insight into situation awareness (SA). Little research has been done to examine the extent to which gaze behaviour, task performance and SA are impacted by various task manipulations within the confines of early-stage skill development. Accordingly, the current study aimed to understand the impact of task difficulty on landing performance, gaze behaviour and SA across different phases of flight. Twenty-four low-time (<300 hours) pilots completed simulated landing scenarios under visual flight rules conditions. Traditional gaze metrics, entropybased metrics, and blink rate provided meaningful insight about the extent to which information processing is modulated by flight phase and task difficulty. The results also suggested that gaze behavior changes compensated for increased task demands and minimized the impact on task performance. Dynamic gaze analyses were shown to be a robust measure of task difficulty and pilot flight hours. Recommendations for the effective implementation of gaze behaviour metrics and their utility in examining information processing changes are discussed.

REM sleep breathing: Insights beyond conventional respiratory metrics.

Breathing and sleep state are tightly linked. The traditional approach to evaluation of breathing in rapid eye movement sleep has been to focus on apneas and hypopneas, and associated hypoxia or hypercapnia. However, rapid eye movement sleep breathing offers novel insights into sleep physiology and pathology, secondary to complex interactions of rapid eye movement state and cardiorespiratory biology. In this review, morphological analysis of clinical polysomnogram data to assess respiratory patterns and associations across a range of health and disease is presented. There are several relatively unique insights that may be evident by assessment of breathing during rapid eye movement sleep. These include the original discovery of rapid eye movement sleep and scoring of neonatal sleep, control of breathing in rapid eye movement sleep, rapid eye movement sleep homeostasis, sleep apnea endotyping and pharmacotherapy, rapid eye movement sleep stability, non-electroencephalogram sleep staging, influences on cataplexy, mimics of rapid eye movement behaviour disorder, a reflection of autonomic health, and insights into cardiac arrhythmogenesis. In summary, there is rich clinically actionable information beyond sleep apnea encoded in the respiratory patterns of rapid eye movement sleep.

Gait Analysis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics in Patients with Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder (iRBD) can precede neurodegenerative diseases. There is an urgent need for biomarkers to aid early intervention and neuroprotection. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to assess quantitative motor, cognitive, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics in iRBD patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients and 28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent clinical, cognitive, and motor functional evaluations, along with brain MRI. Motor tasks included nine-hole peg test, five-times-sit-to-stand test, timed-up-and-go test, and 4-meter walking test with and without cognitive dual task. Quantitative spatiotemporal gait parameters were obtained using an optoelectronic system. Brain MRI analysis included functional connectivity (FC) of the main resting-state networks, gray matter (GM) volume using voxel-based morphometry, cortical thickness, and deep GM and brainstem volumes using FMRIB's Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool and FreeSurfer. RESULTS: iRBD patients relative to healthy subjects exhibited a poorer performance during the nine-hole peg test and five-times-sit-to-stand test, and greater asymmetry of arm-swing amplitude and stride length variability during dual-task gait. Dual task significantly worsened the walking performance of iRBD patients more than healthy controls. iRBD patients exhibited nonmotor symptoms, and memory, abstract reasoning, and visuospatial deficits. iRBD patients exhibited decreased FC of pallidum and putamen within the basal ganglia network and occipital and temporal areas within the visuo-associative network, and a reduced volume of the supramarginal gyrus. Brain functional alterations correlated with gait changes. CONCLUSIONS: Subtle motor and nonmotor alterations were identified in iRBD patients, alongside brain structural and functional MRI changes. These findings may represent early signs of neurodegeneration and contribute to the development of predictive models for progression to parkinsonism. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Visual search strategies and game knowledge in junior Australian rules football players: testing potential in talent identification and development.

This study explored video-based decision-making and eye-movement behavior as a complementary method to assess the decision-making skills and knowledge of elite junior Australian Rules (AR) Football players. Performance was measured twice over an 18-month period. This approach tested a practical and reliable assessment of decision-making and game knowledge that does not contribute to physical training load. N = 59 participants were categorized based on their training age groups, U14 (N = 38, Mage 13.37 ± 0.47) and U16 (N = 21, Mage 14.80 ± 0.39). Participants watched 14 brief video clips and provided action choices while wearing eye-movement recording glasses that captured visual search patterns (e.g., fixations). Decision accuracy and speed of decision-making were also recorded. Participants with accurate decisions made significantly faster decisions compared to less skilled players (p < 0.001). Further, skilled participants had significantly fewer fixations of shorter duration compared to less skilled participants at both the initial and follow-up testing sessions (p < 0.0001). This suggests that eye-movement characteristics, remain a relatively stable measure over moderate periods of time. With the ability to differentiate between more and less skilled decision-makers, this proof-of-concept study proposes that examining eye movements in relation to decision-making and game knowledge is a viable tool for Talent Identification and Development (TID) to complement current measures. We provide a platform for further development and research in the quest for efficient and effective talent identification processes.

Association of body mass index with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson's disease.

Background: The association between body mass index (BMI) and rapid eye-movement (REM) sleep-related behavioral disorder (RBD) in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown. Our study was to investigate the association of BMI with RBD in PD patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 1,115 PD participants were enrolled from Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database. BMI was calculated as weight divided by height squared. RBD was defined as the RBD questionnaire (RBDSQ) score with the cutoff of 5 or more assessed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations between BMI and the prevalence of RBD. Non-linear correlations were explored with use of restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. And the inflection point was determined by the two-line piecewise linear models. Results: We identified 426 (38.2%) RBD. The proportion of underweight, normal, overweight and obese was 2.61, 36.59, 40.36, and 20.44%, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression model with full adjustment for confounding variables, obese individuals had an odds ratio of 1.77 (95% confidence interval: 1.21 to 2.59) with RBD compared with those of normal weight. In the RCS models with three knots, BMI showed a non-linear association with RBD. The turning points of BMI estimated from piecewise linear models were of 28.16 kg/m2, 28.10 kg/m2, and 28.23 kg/m2 derived from univariable and multivariable adjusted logistic regression models. The effect modification by depression on the association between BMI and RBD in PD was also found in this study. Furthermore, the sensitivity analyses linked with cognition, education, and ethnic groups indicated the robustness of our results. Conclusion: The current study found a significant dose-response association between BMI and RBD with a depression-based difference in the impact of BMI on RBD in PD patients.

Paying attention.

Intentional eye movements depend on where peripheral attention is voluntarily deployed beforehand, but they can be directed elsewhere shortly afterwards.

REM sleep and neurodegeneration.

Several brainstem, subcortical and cortical areas are involved in the generation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The alteration of these structures as a result of a neurodegenerative process may therefore lead to REM sleep anomalies. REM sleep behaviour disorder is associated with nightmares, dream-enacting behaviours and increased electromyographic activity in REM sleep. Its isolated form is a harbinger of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies, and neuroprotective interventions are advocated. This link might also be present in patients taking antidepressants, with post-traumatic stress disorder, or with a history of repeated traumatic head injury. REM sleep likely contributes to normal memory processes. Its alteration has also been proposed to be part of the neuropathological changes occurring in Alzheimer's disease.

Abnormal Scanning Patterns Based on Eye Movement Entropy in Early Psychosis.

BACKGROUND: Restricted scan path mode is hypothesized to explain abnormal scanning patterns in patients with schizophrenia. Here, we calculated entropy scores (drawing upon gaze data to measure the statistical randomness of eye movements) to quantify how strategical and random participants were to process image stimuli. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES), 124 individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, and 115 healthy controls (HCs) completed an eye-tracking examination for freely viewing 35 static images (each presented 10s) and cognitive assessments. We compared the group differences in overall entropy score, as well as entropy scores under various conditions. Furthermore, we also investigated the correlation between entropy scores and symptoms along with cognitive function. RESULTS: Increased overall entropy scores were noted in FES and CHR groups relative to HCs, and these differences were already apparent within 0∼2.5s. In addition, the CHR group exhibited higher entropy when viewing low-meaning images compared to HCs. Moreover, the entropy within 0∼2.5s showed significant correlations with negative symptoms in the FES group, Attention/Vigilance scores in the CHR group, as well as Speed of processing and Attention/Vigilance scores across all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that FES and CHR individuals scan pictures more randomly and less strategically than HCs. These patterns also correlate with clinical symptoms and neurocognition. The present study highlights the potential of the eye movement entropy measure as a neurophysiological marker for early psychosis.

iVOMS: Instrumented Vestibular / Ocular motor screen in healthy controls and mild traumatic brain injury.

Objective Vestibular/ocular deficits occur with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS) tool is used to assess individuals post-mTBI, which primarily relies upon subjective self-reported symptoms. Instrumenting the VOMS (iVOMS) with technology may allow for more objective assessment post-mTBI, which reflects actual task performance. This study aimed to validate the iVOMS analytically and clinically in mTBI and controls. Methods Seventy-nine people with sub-acute mTBI (<12 weeks post-injury) and forty-four healthy control participants performed the VOMS whilst wearing a mobile eye-tracking on a one-off visit. People with mTBI were included if they were within 12 weeks of a physician diagnosis. Participants were excluded if they had any musculoskeletal, neurological or sensory deficits which could explain dysfunction. A series of custom-made eye tracking algorithms were used to assess recorded eye-movements. Results The iVOMS was analytically valid compared to the reference (ICC2,1 0.85-0.99) in mTBI and controls. The iVOMS outcomes were clinically valid as there were significant differences between groups for convergence, vertical saccades, smooth pursuit, vestibular ocular reflex and visual motion sensitivity outcomes. However, there was no significant relationship between iVOMS outcomes and self-reported symptoms. Conclusion The iVOMS is analytically and clinically valid in mTBI and controls, but further work is required to examine the sensitivity of iVOMS outcomes across the mTBI spectrum. Findings also highlighted that symptom and physiological issue resolution post-mTBI may not coincide and relationships need further examination.

A study on the visual recognition patterns of multi-information guide signs based on eye movement data analysis.

A two-factor experiment was devised to assess the appropriateness of the quantity and arrangement of information on multi-information guide signs at unique, spacious exits on elevated expressway sections. This experiment investigated 77 signs containing varying amounts of road name information and different placements of destination road names. The research entailed an indoor experiment that incorporated eye-tracking technology and involved the analysis of a total of twenty-eight indicators. A comprehensive index system was developed, identifying three key aspects: visual recognition efficiency, visual recognition difficulty, and visual fatigue. Utilizing repeated measure analysis of variances, the impact of these two factors was examined to identify significant indicators and establish a comprehensive assessment indicator system. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method, in conjunction with the coefficient of entropy weight, was employed to assess the effectiveness of these two factors. The findings demonstrated that the 28 eye-movement indicators utilized in this study effectively constitute a valuable indicator system for evaluating drivers' visual recognition characteristics. These indicators capture the subtle psychophysical traits inherent in the process of recognizing signs, including visual recognition efficiency, difficulty, and fatigue. Regarding the first experimental factor, the number of sign road names significantly influences drivers' visual recognition characteristics (Sig < 0.05). Specifically, an increase in the number of sign road names leads to diminished visual recognition efficiency and heightened visual recognition difficulty and fatigue. Consequently, it is advisable to restrict the number of sign road names to a maximum of six per sign under typical circumstances, with nine being the limit under special conditions. As for the second experimental factor, the placement of the destination road name within the sign layout exerts a significant impact on visual recognition characteristics (Sig < 0.05). Each type of multi-information sign exhibits a distinct visual recognition pattern. Generally, the upper portion of the sign is more easily recognized, while the lower part poses greater recognition challenges. Therefore, to mitigate visual recognition risks, it is recommended that road information placement be prioritized based on actual usage conditions.

Exploring the impact of biological alterations in the superior thalamic radiations on exploratory eye movements in attenuated psychosis syndrome.

Introduction: Aberrant fixation and scan paths in visual searches have been repeatedly reported in schizophrenia. The frontal eye fields (FEF) and thalamus may be responsible for fixation and scan paths. These two regions are connected by superior thalamic radiation (STR) in humans. Studies have reported reduced fixation numbers and shortened scan path lengths in individuals with attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS) and schizophrenia. In this study, we hypothesized that STRs in the white matter fiber bundles of impairments underlie abnormalities in fixation and scan path length in individuals with APS. Methods: Twenty-one individuals with APS and 30 healthy controls participated in this study. All participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging, and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the left and right STR were analyzed using the novel method TractSeg. The number of eye fixations (NEF), total eye scanning length (TESL), and mean eye scanning length (MESL), derived using the exploratory eye movement (EEM) test, were adopted to evaluate the fixation and scan path length. We compared the FA values of the bilateral STR and EEM parameters between the APS and healthy control groups. We investigated the correlation between bilateral STR and EEM parameters in the APS and healthy control groups. Results: NEF, TESL, MESL, and the FA values of the left STR were significantly reduced in individuals with APS compared to healthy controls. The left STR FA value in the APS group was significantly positively correlated with the MESL (r = 0.567, p = 0.007). In addition, the right STR FA value of the APS group was significantly correlated with the TESL (r = 0.587, p = 0.005) and MESL (r = 0.756, p = 0.7×10-4). Discussion: These results demonstrate that biological changes in the STR, which connects the thalamus and FEF, underlie abnormalities in fixation and scanning. Recently, aberrations in the thalamus-frontal connection have been shown to underlie the emergence of psychotic symptoms. STR impairment may be a part of the biological basis of APS in individuals with subthreshold psychotic symptoms.

A REM-active basal ganglia circuit that regulates anxiety.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has been hypothesized to promote emotional resilience, but any neuronal circuits mediating this have not been identified. We find that in mice, somatostatin (Som) neurons in the entopeduncular nucleus (EPSom)/internal globus pallidus are predominantly active during REM sleep. This unique REM activity is both necessary and sufficient for maintaining normal REM sleep. Inhibiting or exciting EPSom neurons reduced or increased REM sleep duration, respectively. Activation of the sole downstream target of EPSom neurons, Vglut2 cells in the lateral habenula (LHb), increased sleep via the ventral tegmental area (VTA). A simple chemogenetic scheme to periodically inhibit the LHb over 4 days selectively removed a significant amount of cumulative REM sleep. Chronic, but not acute, REM reduction correlated with mice becoming anxious and more sensitive to aversive stimuli. Therefore, we suggest that cumulative REM sleep, in part generated by the EP → LHb → VTA circuit identified here, could contribute to stabilizing reactions to habitual aversive stimuli.

Rapid eye movement sleep and epilepsy: exploring interactions and therapeutic prospects.

While research interest in the relationship between sleep and epilepsy is growing, it primarily centres on the effects of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in favouring seizures. Nonetheless, a noteworthy aspect is the observation that, in the lives of patients with epilepsy, REM sleep represents the moment with the least epileptic activity and the lowest probability of having a seizure. Studies demonstrate a suppressive effect of phasic REM sleep on interictal epileptiform discharges, potentially offering insights into epilepsy localisation and management. Furthermore, epilepsy impacts REM sleep, with successful treatment correlating with improved REM sleep quality. Novel therapeutic strategies aim to harness REM's anti-epileptic effects, including pharmacological approaches targeting orexinergic systems and neuromodulation techniques promoting cortical desynchronisation. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between REM sleep and epilepsy, highlighting avenues for further research and therapeutic innovation in epilepsy management.

Comparison of two visual-verbal tests of ocular motility using an eye-tracker.

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare eye movements monitored with an eye tracker during two visuo-verbal tests for assessing ocular motility. The study explores the potential of digital assessment and eye tracking technology in enhancing the understanding of ocular motility during these tests. METHODS: 47 healthy participants were included (20 males, 27 females), with a mean age of 21.34±1.77 years. The participants underwent optometric examinations to ensure visual health and exclude any dysfunctions or pathologies. The experimental protocol involved the digitized versions of the DEM and King-Devick tests, monitored with an eye tracker. RESULTS: The vertical subtests of DEM test showed fewer saccades, longer fixation durations, smaller saccade amplitudes, and slower saccade speeds compared to the horizontal subtest. The King-Devick test exhibited comparable fixation and saccade numbers, while fixation duration slightly increased with test difficulty. Statistically significant differences were found between the tests, but a positive correlation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant differences were observed between the DEM and King-Devick tests, indicating that they measure similar aspects but are not interchangeable. The DEM test offers more comprehensive information with vertical saccade assessment. Test duration correlates positively with saccade and fixation count, fixation duration, and saccade speed.

Homeostatic regulation of rapid eye movement sleep by the preoptic area of the hypothalamus.

Rapid eye movement sleep (REMs) is characterized by activated electroencephalogram (EEG) and muscle atonia, accompanied by vivid dreams. REMs is homeostatically regulated, ensuring that any loss of REMs is compensated by a subsequent increase in its amount. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the homeostatic control of REMs are largely unknown. Here, we show that GABAergic neurons in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus projecting to the tuberomammillary nucleus (POAGAD2→TMN neurons) are crucial for the homeostatic regulation of REMs in mice. POAGAD2→TMN neurons are most active during REMs, and inhibiting them specifically decreases REMs. REMs restriction leads to an increased number and amplitude of calcium transients in POAGAD2→TMN neurons, reflecting the accumulation of REMs pressure. Inhibiting POAGAD2→TMN neurons during REMs restriction blocked the subsequent rebound of REMs. Our findings reveal a hypothalamic circuit whose activity mirrors the buildup of homeostatic REMs pressure during restriction and that is required for the ensuing rebound in REMs.

Choice enhances touch pleasantness.

We value what we choose more than what is imposed upon us. Choice-induced preferences are extensively demonstrated using behavioural and neural methods, mainly involving rewarding objects such as money or material goods. However, the impact of choice on experiences, especially in the realm of affective touch, remains less explored. In this study, we specifically investigate whether choice can enhance the pleasure derived from affective touch, thereby increasing its intrinsic rewarding value. We conducted an experiment in which participants were being touched by an experimenter and asked to rate how pleasant their experience of touch was. They were given either a choice or no choice over certain touch stimulus variables which differed in their relevance: some were of low relevance (relating to the colour of the glove that the experimenter would use to touch them), while others were of high relevance (relating to the location on their arm where they would be stroked). Before and during touching, pupillometry was used to measure the level of arousal. We found that having a choice over aspects of tactile stimuli-especially those relevant to oneself-enhanced the pleasant perception of the touch. In addition, having a choice increases arousal in anticipation of touch. Regardless of how relevant it is to the actual tactile stimulus, allowing one to choose may positively enhance a person's perception of the physical contact they receive.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Impairs Oculomotor Functions: A Longitudinal Eye-tracking Study.

Although Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infection (SARS-CoV-2) is primarily recognized as a respiratory disease, mounting evidence suggests that it may lead to neurological and cognitive impairments. The current study used three eye-tracking tasks (free-viewing, fixation, and smooth pursuit) to assess the oculomotor functions of mild infected cases over six months with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected volunteers. Fifty symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected, and 24 self-reported healthy controls completed the eye-tracking tasks in an initial assessment. Then, 45, and 40 symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected completed the tasks at 2- and 6-months post-infection, respectively. In the initial assessment, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected exhibited impairments in diverse eye movement metrics. Over the six months following infection, the infected reported overall improvement in health condition, except for self-perceived mental health. The eye movement patterns in the free-viewing task shifted toward a more focal processing mode and there was no significant improvement in fixation stability among the infected. A linear discriminant analysis shows that eye movement metrics could differentiate the infected from healthy controls with an accuracy of approximately 62%, even 6 months post-infection. These findings suggest that symptomatic SARSCoV- 2 infection may result in persistent impairments in oculomotor functions, and the employment of eye-tracking technology can offer valuable insights into both the immediate and long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Future studies should employ a more balanced research design and leverage advanced machine-learning methods to comprehensively investigate the impact of SARSCoV- 2 infection on oculomotor functions.