Israeli researchers have developed a new technology that could greatly enhance the way clinicians assess patients under anesthesia, during sleep, or in critical care
The non-invasive innovation enables physicians to track the eye movement and dilation of a patient’s eyes, even when closed, offering the promise of improving clinical responses to patients in unresponsive conditions.
Pupil dilation — the process by which the pupils expand or widen to allow more light to enter the eyes — can provide critical insights into a patient’s physiological state. The pupil size fluctuates not only in response to light but also as a reaction to emotional and physical stimuli, such as pain or sudden events. These changes are driven by the autonomic nervous system, which prepares the body to react to external stimuli.
However, until now, monitoring these changes was only possible when patients had their eyes open.