Vision and Mental Health Linked in Eye Movement Studies

Currently, there are no scientific tests to diagnoseobjects are difficult for those with schizophrenia to
some mental illnesses; for instance, there is no bipolartrack with their eyes, and those who suffer from
test to determine whether one is suffering frombipolar disorder may be sensitive to various lighting
manic depression. However, studies are underwayconditions and light wave lengths. Depression hurts,
that will hopefully help researchers to create such aand those suffering from it may have visual
test.abnormalities as well. For instance, the severely
New technology has been developed which hasdepressed can experience tunnel vision.
allowed researchers to accurately measure visionThere are other studies underway that also revolve
abnormalities in the mentally ill. One study, funded byaround the eyes. These studies look at how artificial
a $1.2 million grant, is studying eye movements in thedarkness, optical prisms, and color contacts affect
mentally ill. Research so far has shown that the waymood.
the eyes track in that population group can indicateEye movement studies may offer a way to better
an adverse medical condition in the brain. The team isunderstand the problems in the brain that occur in the
working with a sample group diagnosed with mentalmentally ill. Mental illness can be crippling. Through
illnesses including depression, schizophrenia, autism,further research, perhaps a link will be found
attention disorders and bipolar disorder.between eye movement and cognitive abnormalities
Eye tracking and eye movement are the main areasand a tie to their genetic basis. Hopefully, there will be
of focus in the study. How the eyes react candiscoveries in testing, diagnosing, and treating people
suggest problems with how the nervous systemwith mental illnesses based on these studies.
works in the mentally ill. For example, slow-moving