Researchers at City University London claim that they can detect glaucoma by observing how a person watches television.

They compared a group of 32 elderly people with another group of 44 people who had glaucoma. Participants were asked to view three TV and film clips, while their eye movements, particularly the direction they were looking in, were being recorded. The researchers then analyzed the data to produce detailed maps that were used to diagnose glaucoma.

This breakthrough could lead to the early detection of the disease and to the possibility of beginning treatment before permanent damage sets in.

For further information: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00312/abstract