Eye Vergence Responses During an Attention Task in Adults With ADHD and Clinical Controls

J Atten Disord. 2021 Jul;25(9):1302-1310. doi: 10.1177/1087054719897806. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

Abstract

Objective: ADHD patients show poor oculomotor control and recent studies show that attention-related eye vergence is weak in ADHD children. We aimed to assess vergence as a potential diagnostic biomarker for ADHD in adults. Method: We assessed the modulation in the angle of vergence while performing an attention task (N = 144), comparing the results for adults previously diagnosed with ADHD (N = 108) with age-matched clinical controls (N = 36). Results: Significant differences in eye vergence response modulation between clinical controls and ADHD patients were documented. Diagnostic test accuracy was 79%. Conclusion: In combination with an attention task, eye vergence responses could be used as an objective marker to support the clinical diagnosis of adult ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; adults; binocular; biomarker; diagnosis; eye vergence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*
  • Biomarkers
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Vision, Binocular

Substances

  • Biomarkers