Small study explores effect of eye-movement training in school children

A new study published in BMC Pediatrics has explored how an eye-movement training programme affects the ability of school children to perform a range of tasks – from postural stability to grip strength and eye-hand coordination.

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan recruited 28 children between the ages of eight and 15 living in Tsukuba city.

The study participants completed a daily eye-movement training programme by completing exercises through an instructional video at home. The tasks involved saccadic eye movements, smooth pursuit and the vestibulo-ocular reflex.

Compliance with the training programme was measured through the total video playback time over the 24-week study period.

The researchers found that the eye-movement training programme did not improve the postural stability of the study participants.

However, the researchers did observe improvements in eye-hand coordination and the ability to identify horizontally moving digits.

The scientists noted that the study findings should be interpreted cautiously because the research did not include a control group.

“Overall, our study provides preliminary evidence that may help design future randomised controlled trials,” the researchers highlighted.