Eye-Tracking Reading Patterns as Correlates of Clinical Measures in Glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Vision Science

Background:

• Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy leading to characteristic visual field defects.
• Reading performance is influenced by visual function, but its relationship with glaucoma-specific impairments requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between reading performance patterns (saccades, fixation, reading speed) and functional/structural eye exams in glaucoma patients.
• To determine which visual field or structural measures are most predictive of reading difficulties in glaucoma.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of primary glaucoma patients with best corrected visual acuity of at least 0.5 logMAR.
• Recorded reading of MNREAD slides using eye-tracking software to analyze reading speed, saccades, and fixations.
• Correlated reading patterns with Humphrey 24-2 Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) and Cirrus Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) data.

Main Results:

• Central superior defects in SAP were associated with the slowest reading speed and a higher number of saccades.
• Inferior quadrant thinning on OCT correlated with slower reading and more fixations.
• Peripheral SAP defects were linked to shorter saccade amplitudes.

Conclusions:

• Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) data demonstrated a stronger correlation with reading abnormalities than Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) data.
• Central superior SAP damage is significantly associated with abnormal reading patterns on a computer screen.
• Peripheral SAP injuries correlate with reduced saccade amplitude, impacting reading efficiency.