Positions of the horizontal and vertical centre of rotation in eyes with different refractive errors

Eye Tracking in Optometry: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the use of eye-tracking devices in optometry, describing their main characteristics, areas of application and metrics used. Using the PRISMA method, a systematic search was performed of three databases. The search strategy identified 141 reports relevant to this topic, indicating the exponential growth over the past ten years of the use of eye trackers in optometry. Eye-tracking technology was applied in at least 12 areas of the field of optometry and rehabilitation, the main ones being optometric device technology, and the assessment, treatment, and analysis of ocular disorders. The main devices reported on were infrared light-based and had an image capture frequency of 60 Hz to 2000 Hz. The main metrics mentioned were fixations, saccadic movements, smooth pursuit, microsaccades, and pupil variables. Study quality was sometimes limited in that incomplete information was provided regarding the devices used, the study design, the methods used, participants' visual function and statistical treatment of data. While there is still a need for more research in this area, eye-tracking devices should be more actively incorporated as a useful tool with both clinical and research applications. This review highlights the robustness this technology offers to obtain objective information about a person's vision in terms of optometry and visual function, with implications for improving visual health services and our understanding of the vision process.

Technical notes on peripheral refraction, peripheral eye length and retinal shape determination

PURPOSE

To give an overview of the misconceptions and potential artefacts associated with measuring peripheral refractive error and eye length, the use of these measures to determine the retinal shape and their links to myopia development. Several issues were identified: the relationship between peripheral refractive error and myopia development, inferring the retinal shape from peripheral refraction or eye length patterns, artefacts and accuracy when measuring peripheral eye length using an optical biometer.

METHODS

A theory was developed to investigate the influence of artefacts in measuring peripheral eye length and on using peripheral eye length to make inferences about retinal shape.

RESULTS

When determining peripheral axial length, disregarding the need to realign instruments with mounted targets can lead to incorrect field angles and positions of mounted targets by more than 10% for targets placed close to the eye. Peripheral eye length is not a good indicator of the effects of myopia or of treatment for myopia development because eyes of different lengths but with the same retinal shape would be interpreted as having different retinal shapes; the measurement leads to overestimates of changes in retinal curvature as myopia increases. Determining peripheral eye length as a function of estimated retinal height rather than field angle will halve the magnitude of the artefact. The artefact resulting from the peripheral use of biometers with an on-axis calibration is modest and can be ignored.

CONCLUSION

There are significant issues with peripheral measurements of the refractive error and eye length that must be considered when interpreting these data for myopia research. Some of these issues can be mitigated, while others require further investigation.