Eye-Com Eye Tracking System to Detect Signs of PTSD
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According to the New York Times, over 2 million troops have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Whether engaged in combat or not, soldiers in warzones are exposed to distressing conditions and disturbing sights that alter their lives forever. It is estimated that at least 20% of these 2 million soldiers will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of their time overseas.
The gravity of the situation has brought PTSD into the spotlight. As of now, there is no way to diagnose PTSD except through subjective psyche valuation. Eye-Com Corporation has received Congressional Initiative grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to investigate the possibility of using the Eye-Com EC7T™ eye tracking system to detect oculometric signs of PTSD and other neuro-ophthomological and traumatic brain and eye injuries.
A method for distinguishing normal from abnormal oculometrics will aid in the development of diagnostic and predictive algorithms which can be used to diagnose and to assess the efficacy of treatment of subjects with these medical conditions. A system with these capabilities would not only be a more accurate diagnostic tool than current subjective methods, it would also help the thousands of soldiers suffering from this condition more quickly receive the treatment they need.
New regulations were recently passed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to make it easier for veterans with PTSD to receive disability benefits. There are worries that this will create an opportunity for fraudulent claims and that the $5 billion price tag over the next few years is too high. A field-ready system that can detect and measure unique oculometric characteristics in soldiers with PTSD could eliminate fraudulent claims. Also, early detection and initiation of therapy for PTSD could reduce the long term, debilitating effects that cause veterans to require disability compensation rather than reentering the workforce. This could cut down on the costs expected to result from these new regulations.
Falling in line with Eye-Com Corporation’s dedication to developing eye tracking technology to improve and save lives, this research will be invaluable in a time when PTSD rates are skyrocketing.