In its early stages, Parkinson's disease is not easy to diagnose. But a test in development for a decade could change how we look at the disease.
Dr. Mark Baron, director of the Southeast Veterans Affairs Parkinson's Disease Research, says the disease starts a one to three decades, before patients start having motor symptoms. He believes his eye test is the key to early diagnosis.
According to Dr. Baron, everyone with Parkinson's disease has a tremor behind the eyes. While wearing his device, patients follow a dot on the screen that tells the eye tracker where he is looking. Doctors then analyze the data looking for the tremors.
Dr. Baron says in a matter of minutes the test shows whether a patient has Parkinson's. It can also help reverse a misdiagnose.
He'd like to see the eye test become a screening tool used during regular doctor visits. He says it could also help detect movement disorders, other than Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Mark Baron, director of the Southeast Veterans Affairs Parkinson's Disease Research, says the disease starts a one to three decades, before patients start having motor symptoms. He believes his eye test is the key to early diagnosis.
According to Dr. Baron, everyone with Parkinson's disease has a tremor behind the eyes. While wearing his device, patients follow a dot on the screen that tells the eye tracker where he is looking. Doctors then analyze the data looking for the tremors.
Dr. Baron says in a matter of minutes the test shows whether a patient has Parkinson's. It can also help reverse a misdiagnose.
He'd like to see the eye test become a screening tool used during regular doctor visits. He says it could also help detect movement disorders, other than Parkinson's disease.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.