The utility of oculomotor assessment in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy

Adults with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) often complain of difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and slow thinking. Conventional cognitive assessments are labour-intensive and serial assessments are subjected to practice effects. Using oculomotor cognitive tasks, this research measures saccadic eye movements to detect and monitor executive dysfunction in adults with DRE. The results demonstrated impaired inhibition, visuospatial working memory, attention, and processing speed. A repeat oculomotor assessment following epilepsy surgery showed improved inhibitory control with seizure freedom and improved processing speed when antiseizure medications are reduced. In conclusion, oculomotor assessment could be a precise and reproducible cognitive screening tool for adults with DRE.