A 13-second bedside eye test can accurately predict whether patients with severe brain injuries will regain consciousness within seven days, according to new research presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress on June 27, 2026.
The study, conducted by researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet and the Technical University of Denmark, analyzed 250 patients with impaired consciousness and 30 healthy controls.
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Using automated pupillometry, the team tracked a previously overlooked phase called the late light-off response.
How the Test Works
Lead author Dr. Poul Laigaard explained that this measurement captures critical data about long-term healing potential that standard ICU metrics miss.
"Current tests of pupillary function tell us how the brain is responding in the moment, but the late light-off response may provide clues about the brain's potential for recovery," said Dr. Laigaard from Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet.
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The assessment uses existing handheld digital devices already common in modern healthcare facilities.
"The entire assessment takes only 13 seconds per eye, making it a fast and practical bedside tool that could be integrated into routine ICU care," Dr. Laigaard added.
Senior author Professor Daniel Kondziella emphasized that wider validation is needed before the protocol becomes a universal medical standard.
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"Larger, multicenter studies are needed to determine whether this approach could be used routinely for bedside monitoring and prognosis," said Professor Kondziella.
