SmartEye: Developing a Novel Eye Tracking System for Quantitative Assessment of Oculomotor Abnormalities

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ocular movements are crucial for sensory perception, involving complex neural networks.
• The oculomotor system's vulnerability to neurological disorders highlights the diagnostic potential of eye movement analysis.
• Objective assessment tools for oculomotor function could revolutionize brain disorder diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce SmartEye, a novel gaze assessment tool.
• To evaluate the utility of SmartEye in objectively assessing oculomotor function.
• To explore the potential of gaze-related indices as biomarkers for stroke assessment.

Main Methods:

• SmartEye assesses eye fixation, smooth pursuit, and blinking using static and dynamic visual stimuli.
• Gaze-related indices were evaluated in real-time.
• A preliminary feasibility study compared chronic stroke survivors and healthy individuals.

Main Results:

• SmartEye successfully evaluated gaze-related indices in real-time.
• Quantitative gaze metrics were mapped to pathological states in stroke patients.
• Preliminary findings indicate potential quantitative biomarkers for stroke assessment.

Conclusions:

• Gaze-related indices derived from SmartEye show promise as quantitative biomarkers for stroke.
• Objective oculomotor assessment using SmartEye may aid in early diagnosis and monitoring of neurological conditions.
• Further research is warranted to validate SmartEye's clinical utility in a broader patient population.