A dynamical method to objectively assess infantile nystagmus based on eye tracking. A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Nystagmus quantification is crucial for patient assessment and treatment monitoring.
• Current methods may lack objectivity, ease of use, or cost-effectiveness for widespread clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, accessible, and objective method for quantifying nystagmus.
• To utilize eye-tracking data from a simple reading task for clinical assessment.
• To develop indices for improved patient follow-up and treatment evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, observational pilot study involving 4 nystagmus patients and 9 healthy children.
• Eye movements during an 82-word reading task were recorded using eye-tracking technology.
• Two novel quantifiers, IndS (movement speed) and IndF (gaze trajectory variation), were proposed and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The proposed indices, IndS and IndF, effectively distinguished between nystagmus patients and the control group (p=0.01).
• Nystagmus patients exhibited higher IndS values (fewer slow movements) and higher IndF values (increased gaze fluctuation).
• No significant difference in reading task completion time was observed between groups (p=0.73).

Conclusions:

• The developed indices offer a new, objective approach to nystagmus assessment.
• This method has potential for integration into clinical practice and research.
• It can enhance patient monitoring and treatment efficacy evaluation over time.