Comparison of image-based quantification methods in evaluating fixation stability using a remote eye tracker in abnormal phoria

초록

Objective This study was performed to establish a quantitative evaluation and comparison of fixation stability, as measured by an eye tracker, using image-based areas determined by the bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA), kernel density estimation (KDE), and Scanpath methods. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included 45 and 20 participants with abnormal and normal phoria, respectively. Eye movements were recorded using a remote eye tracker and were plotted using RStudio software. Image-based areas were evaluated using ImageJ software. Results The image-based areas used to evaluate fixation stability exhibited decreasing stability in the abnormal phoria group in the following order: KDE with +/- 1 standard deviation (SD), BCEA with +/- 1 SD, KDE with +/- 2 SD or Scanpath, and BCEA with +/- 2 SD. The BCEA tended to be overestimated, and the KDE tended to be underestimated at high density. The Scanpath method had a very high probability area because the area spans all gaze points. Conclusions Fixation stability could be quantified as image-based areas by the KDE, BCEA, and Scanpath methods. Our findings suggest that fixation stability may be evaluated using one or more methods.

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