Evaluation of a video tracking device for measurement of horizontal and vertical eye rotations during locomotion

We have evaluated a video-based method for measuring binocular horizontal and vertical eye movements of human subjects by comparing it with the magnetic search coil technique. This video tracking system (VTS) uses multiple infrared light sources and small video cameras to simultaneously measure the positions of reflected corneal images and the center of the pupil. The system has a linear range of approximately +/- 40 degrees horizontally and +/- 30 degrees vertically, a sampling rate of 120 Hz (180 Hz with the head fixed), and system noise with standard deviation of < 0.04 degree. The binocular eye-tracking system is light-weight (190 g), being mounted on goggles that, with the eyes in primary position, permit a field of view of 60 degrees horizontally and vertically. The VTS is insensitive to translations of the tracker relative to the eyes. By placing the video preprocessing unit on a cart, eye movements may be recorded while subjects walk through distances up to 100 feet. In comparison with the magnetic search coil technique, the VTS generally provides reliable measurements of horizontal and vertical eye position; eye velocity is noisier than corresponding coil signals, but superior to electro-oculography.