Background: Visio-spatial skills (VSS) are fundamental perceptual–cognitive capacities that enable athletes to process dynamic visual information, interpret spatial relationships, and execute precise motor responses under competitive conditions. In taekwondo, where scoring actions are executed within milliseconds and success depends on the rapid detection and anticipation of an opponent’s movements, well-developed VSS are considered a functional prerequisite for performance. Method: This cross-sectional observational study examined differences in VSS between amateur taekwondo athletes (n = 50) and non-athletes (n = 50) recruited from the King Cetshwayo Municipality District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Six VSS were assessed using standardized, validated instruments: accommodation facility (AF), saccadic eye movement (SEM), speed of recognition (SR), hand–eye coordination (HEC), peripheral awareness (PA), and visual memory (VM). Between-group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with effect sizes reported as rank-biserial correlations (r). Results: Taekwondo athletes demonstrated significantly superior performance across all VSS domains (all p ≤ 0.05), with a large effect observed for SR (r = 0.91), HEC (r = 0,87), SEM (r = 0.78), and AF (r = 0.74), and moderate effect for VM (r = 0.58) and PA (r = 031). The largest between-group percentage differences were observed for SR (79.43%), HEC (48.13%), and SEM (33.33%), with smaller but significant differences in AF (31.05%), VM (14.92%), and PA (4.23%). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a dense, globally integrated VSS network in non-athletes anchored by AF, contrasting with a sparse pattern in taekwondo athletes, in which SEM showed the greatest number of moderate or stronger associations with other variables. These within-group correlation structures are presented as preliminary and descriptive observations only. Intraclass correlation coefficients were excellent for five of the six VSS (ICC ≥ 0.963), with PA yielding a point estimate of ICC = 0.853, characterized by a wide confidence interval. Conclusions: These findings indicate that amateur taekwondo athletes show superior perceptual, oculomotor, and visuo-motor performance compared to non-athletes. Within-group VSS correlation pattern differs descriptively between the groups. The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether these differences reflect training-associated perceptual adaptation, pre-existing trait-based self-selection into taekwondo, or a combination of both mechanisms. Both interpretations carry applied implications for talent identification and vision training program design. A longitudinal investigation is required to establish causal directionality. SEM and AF are proposed as the most diagnostically informative VSS markers for taekwondo screening, under either interpretation.
This study aims to address whether a new visual-motor-based learning paradigm with music can potentially promote neuroplasticity and create new interventional tools, building upon prior research that shows behavioral and putative neural changes following dance-based neurorehabilitation in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Eye movements of 10 healthy adult participants, aged 20-25, were tracked using the Eyelink 1000 Plus system during a 68 s eye dance sequence. The experiment consisted of a learning phase, where participants observed the sequence five times with 30 s breaks, and a performance phase, where they performed the sequence five times from memory on a gray screen without visual cues. Results showed a significant improvement in percentage of total movements performed correctly between the first session (g1; M = 40%, SD = 7.2%) and the last session (g5; M = 69.7%, SD = 22.8%). Similarly, there was significant improvement in the average time on beat from the intended choreography timing, between the first session (g1; M = 0.29, SD = 0.06) and the fifth session (g5; M = 0.46, SD = 0.12). These findings suggest that eye movement choreography has the potential to be learned within healthy adults.
Physical activity levels, hallucination experiences, sleep quality, and perceived stress were assessed using a survey administered to 57 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). Physical activity demonstrated a significant negative correlation with hallucination severity (r = -0.335, p = 0.011, two-tailed). A significant negative correlation was also observed between physical activity and perceived stress (r = -0.497, p < 0.001, two-tailed). In contrast, no significant association was identified between hallucination frequency and sleep disruption or insomnia. These findings suggest that engaging in appropriate levels of physical activity may help reduce the severity of hallucinations and mitigate stress among individuals with CBS. The observation that higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced hallucination burden may help the development of evidence-based management strategies for CBS. Additionally, the finding that physical activity was significantly related to hallucination severity, whereas sleep disruption was not, merits deeper exploration in future research.
Combined intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation with corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) aims to improve optical regularity and reduce the risk of ectatic progression in selected eyes with keratoconus. In this retrospective, single-center, complete-case longitudinal series, 58 eyes from 40 patients treated at OCULENS Ophthalmology Clinic between 2019 and 2022 were analyzed after same-session KeraRing implantation and conventional epithelium-off CXL, with baseline and 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up data. Outcomes included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), thinnest pachymetry, maximum keratometry (Kmax), the Belin/Ambrosio enhanced ectasia total deviation index (BAD-D), the C and D components of the ABCD classification, and Corvis ST-derived dynamic deformation parameters. Longitudinal continuous outcomes were analyzed as eye-level repeated-measures estimates with Holm-adjusted paired comparisons, and stage distributions were analyzed with the Friedman test. At 36 months, UDVA improved from 0.560 ± 0.151 to 0.469 ± 0.136 logMAR and CDVA from 0.350 ± 0.109 to 0.287 ± 0.092 logMAR (both p < 0.001). Kmax decreased from 56.11 ± 3.17 D to 54.87 ± 2.86 D, BAD-D improved from 5.62 ± 1.89 to 4.70 ± 1.75, and thinnest pachymetry measured 440.7 ± 21.9 µm at 36 months, corresponding to 97.0% of baseline thickness. Corvis ST-derived deformation behavior shifted toward lower deformation amplitude and higher stiffness parameter at first applanation (SP-A1), but these device-derived parameters should be interpreted as indirect deformation response metrics rather than as direct tissue stiffness measurements. Two clinically significant complications were recorded (2/58 eyes, 3.4%): one sterile corneal infiltrate requiring ring explantation and one case of corneal melting requiring ring explantation and referral for keratoplasty. The findings support sustained 36-month visual, tomographic, and Corvis ST-derived changes after combined treatment, while interpretation remains limited by the retrospective complete-case design, unavailable denominator for cases excluded because of incomplete follow-up, eye-level analysis with bilateral cases, lack of a control group, and indirect nature of Corvis ST-derived biomechanical assessment.
Myopia is an increasingly common refractive disorder in children, with growing concern regarding the potential role of screen time and digital device use in its development and progression. This systematic review assessed the association between screen-related behaviours and myopia in European children and adolescents. A systematic search of Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane/CENTRAL was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidance. Original English-language studies published within the last 10 years were included if they involved participants aged <18 years, were conducted in Europe, and investigated screen time, digital device use, near-work behaviour or related lifestyle exposures in relation to myopia-related outcomes. A total of 1196 records were identified across the databases. After duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, and full-text assessment, 14 studies were included. Overall, the evidence suggested an association between screen-related behaviours, prolonged near work, reduced outdoor exposure and myopia-related outcomes in European children. However, findings were heterogeneous, and screen exposure was often measured using broad or proxy variables, including total screen time, smartphone use, internet data consumption, computer use, handheld near-screen use and COVID-19-related lifestyle change. Outdoor activity appeared to be a protective factor, while parental myopia was an important risk factor and confounder. Most included studies were observational, many were cross-sectional, and several relied on self- or parent-reported exposure measures, limiting causal inference and introducing potential recall bias. Overall, the certainty of evidence was low to very low. Practical advice should therefore be framed around balanced digital device use, regular breaks from prolonged near work, appropriate viewing distances and increased outdoor activity, while further longitudinal studies using objective screen-use measures, cycloplegic refraction and axial length outcomes are needed to clarify causality.
