Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
07:30
Efficiently Recording the Eye-Hand Coordination to Incoordination Spectrum
Published on: March 21, 2019
8.5K
Head-Eye Coordination Increases with Age and Varies across Countries
Frédéric J A M Poirier1, Guillaume Giraudet, Jocelyn Faubert
1*PhD Université de Montréal, Ecole d'Optometrie, Montréal, Québec, Canada (all authors); and Essilor Canada, Montréal, Québec, Canada (GG).
Summary
Head-eye coordination, measured by head gain, changes with age and varies by country. Customizing eyewear based on these factors may reduce dizziness and balance issues in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Head movements can cause dizziness and balance problems in older adults.
- Head gain, the ratio of head to total movement during saccades, is a key metric.
- Previous research on head gain and aging yielded conflicting results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between head gain and age in a large population.
- To identify factors influencing head gain beyond age.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of head gain data from 657 laboratory participants and 64,458 optician store customers.
- Calculation of the head-eye coefficient (100 * sqrt(head gain)).
Main Results:
- The head-eye coefficient showed a bimodal distribution, indicating distinct groups of eye-movers and head-and-eye movers.
- Head-eye coefficient increased with age, independent of eye correction and gender.
- National variations in head-eye coefficient correlated with GDP, latitude, and population density.
Conclusions:
- Head gain and associated visual distortions may contribute to age-related dizziness.
- Tailoring eyewear to individual age and country of residence could mitigate issues from head and eye movements.
