# Retinal eye-tracking as a prognostic tool for traumatic brain injury and concussion

> **NIH NIH R44** · C. LIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · 2023 · $695,418

## Abstract

Abstract
The goal of our project is to further develop the tracking scanning laser ophthalmoscope
(TSLO), the Retitrack device, to enable widespread use of the technology for high-resolution eye-
tracking for head injuries, such as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussions. Phase I of this
grant enabled the collection of data from 50 patients who had recently been diagnosed with a
concussion both during their acute recovery period and upon clearance. Accounting for age and
time since injury, fixational eye motion metrics were able to predict individuals with prolonged
recovery (AUC=0.81; 95% CI: 0.68-0.93; p<0.001). The Retitrack brings an unprecedented level
of accuracy of eye tracking to the clinic by using an image-based retinal approach resulting in
motion measurements with a sensitivity of 0.25 arcmin (~1 micron). Currently, this system is the
most accurate, fast and functional eye-tracking system used in a standard ophthalmic instrument.
Research has suggested that pupil eye-tracking technologies have validated the idea of using
eye movements as a biomarker of concussion, but the current eye-trackers available lack the
capacity, repeatability, and sensitivity to predict recovery in mTBI. The Retitrack device can
accurately measure fixational eye movements (FEMs), quantify retinal saccades at an
unprecedented level, and can become an emerging biomarker of mTBI prognosis. Furthermore,
it can serve as an indicator of severity in the symptomatology of multiple other neurological
disorders. The Retitrack device as a concussive prognostic tool would be the perfect fit for Sport
Medicine Clinics and the locker room for post-concussion recovery monitoring ensuring a safe
return to activity and mitigating long-term consequences of concussion by guiding the most
effective therapies. Further optimization of fixational tasks and the construction of innovative
software that uses Artificial Intelligence algorithms to automatically quantify retinal microsaccades
which will lead to the improvement of predicting the recovery and/or worsening of concussion.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10707952
- **Project number:** 5R44NS095090-03
- **Recipient organization:** C. LIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Christy Kathleen Sheehy
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $695,418
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-16 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10707952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10707952, Retinal eye-tracking as a prognostic tool for traumatic brain injury and concussion (5R44NS095090-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10707952. Licensed CC0.

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