Are smooth pursuit eye movements altered in chronic whiplash-associated disorders? A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether smooth pursuit eye movements differed between patients with long-lasting whiplash-associated disorders and controls when using a purely computerized method for the eye movement analysis.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study comparing patients with whiplash-associated disorders and controls who had not been exposed to head or neck trauma and had no notable neck complaints.

METHODS

Smooth pursuit eye movements were registered while the subjects were seated with and without rotated cervical spine.

SUBJECTS: Thirty-four patients with whiplash-associated disorders with symptoms more than six months after a car collision and 60 controls.

RESULTS

Smooth pursuit eye movements were almost identical in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders and controls, both when the neck was rotated and in the neutral position.

CONCLUSION

Disturbed smooth pursuit eye movements do not appear to be a distinct feature in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders. This is in contrast to results of previous studies and may be due to the fact that analyses were performed in a computerized and objective manner. Other possible reasons for the discrepancy to previous studies are discussed.