On-line analysis of eye movements using a digital computer.

Abstract

We describe a microcomputer system for on-line analysis of eye movement recordings. Quantitative data from the patient and statistical comparison with normative data is available within seconds of test completion. Three types of eye movements are analyzed--voluntary saccades, smooth pursuit, and nystagmus. The first two are induced by a computer-controlled laser dot projected onto a screen and the third by a computer-controlled optokinetic drum, caloric infusion, and rotatory chair. The computer algorithm differentiates the eye position signal to yield an instantaneous eye velocity record. Saccades are identified based on their characteristic velocity profile. For pursuit and nystagmus. The first two are induced by a computer-controlled laser dot projected onto a screen and the third by a computer-controlled optokinetic drum, caloric infusion, and rotatory chair. The computer algorithm differentiates the eye position signal to yield an instaneous eye velocity record. Saccades are identified based on their characteristic velocity profile. For pursuit and nystagmus, the velocity record is modified by linearly interpolating across segments in which saccades occurred. The gain (output eye velocity/input eye velocity) is calculated after Fourier analysis of the data.