An unexpected discovery made by American scientists may provide a way of assessing the severity of a stroke in survivors by examining their eyes.

Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke found that a contrast agent given to stroke survivors to assess brain abnormalities – called gadolinium - can also leak into the eyes. Study author Dr Richard Leigh says that this “raises the question of whether there is something we can observe in the eye that would help clinicians evaluate the severity of a stroke.”

Examination of the eye would be a much easier process than an MRI scan, however the researchers stress that their results are preliminary, and that further research is necessary before any firm conclusions can be drawn.

Sources:

1. Medical News Today:
   Stroke - Could looking into the eyes help with diagnosis?.

2. National Institutes of Health:
   Eye could provide “window to the brain” after stroke.