Abstract:
Purpose of the present paper was to study the characteristics of eye movements in
individuals residing in the anti-terrorist operation area and to compare those with
eye movements in healthy individuals.
Material and Methods. The study involved patients undergoing outpatient
examination: Study group, 120 individuals residing in the ATO zone; Control
group, 80 individuals residing in Odessa and Odessa Region. The patients were
selected for additional examination at presentation by doctors in outpatient
department if the patient’s behavior was a matter of concern for a doctor. The
patients were examined accommodation, convergence, conjugate eye movements
in 9 eye positions, and horizontal and vertical saccades.
Results. The individuals residing in the ATO zone had conjugate eye movement
disorders (44.8%), decreased mean values of accommodation (39.8%) and
convergence (45%), and impaired visual acuity. Among saccade disorders,
hypermetric saccades were most frequently recorded: 25% vs.6.2% in Study and
Control groups, respectively, р = 0.0035.
Conclusion. The individuals, residing in the ATO area had impaired visual
function (visual acuity, convergence, and accommodation) comparing to those
residing in Odessa and Odessa region. Significant disorders revealed in vergence
and conjugate eye movements, accommodation, and saccades in Study group can
be used as objective signs of PTSD.
