Goggles may help with vertigo diagnosis

A study by Australian researchers has explored the potential of special goggles that record eye movements in distinguishing between different forms of vertigo.

The research, which was published in the American Academy of Neurology, involved 117 study participants diagnosed with one of the three conditions that cause vertigo.

In the study group, 43 people had Meniere’s disease, 67 suffered from vestibular migraines and seven had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The group was instructed to wear special goggles that record the uncontrolled eye movements that accompany vertigo whenever they had an episode while at home.

The goggles were most effective in identifying those with Meniere’s disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Results were more mixed for vestibular migraines.

However, the researchers highlighted that this technology could aid the rapid and accurate diagnosis of episodic vertigo disorders.

Dr Miriam Welgampola, from the University of Sydney, highlighted: “While further studies are needed in larger groups, providing people with a pair of goggles that they can easily use at home to record eye movements has the potential to help with vertigo diagnosis.”

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