Eye movements during fixation: Implications to long-term viewing of small optical sources

J. W. Ness, H. Zwick, D. J. Lund, B. E. Stuck, D. H. Sliney

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

With the easy attainability of hand-held laser devices and burgeoning Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, safety standards for long-term viewing of continuous light sources are being scrutinized. One concern is with formalizing the effect of head and eye movements on smearing energy from a small optical source over the retina. This experiment describes target motion over the retina as a result of head and eye movements during a deliberate fixation task. Volunteers fixated, with (fettered) and without (unfettered) head and chin rest support, on an LED and laser source that subtended 0.1 minutes of arc visual angle. A dual Purkinje Eye-Tracker measured eye position during each 100-second fixation trial. The data showed a non-uniform retinal energy distribution with an elliptical footprint. The major axis was 2 times greater than the minor axis and oriented along the temporal/nasal retinal axis. The average half-maximum diameter measured along the major axis was 42 microns for the fettered and 108 microns for the unfettered condition. Although the eye is not a stable platform, the `smear' of energy over the retina from head and eye movements does not grossly affect spot size. The data suggest that the time dependent spot size correction of the current laser safety standards be more restrictive.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
PublisherSociety of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
Pages344-350
Number of pages7
Volume3591
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 1999 Ophthalmic Technologies IX - San Jose, CA, USA
Duration: Jan 23 1999Jan 25 1999

Other

OtherProceedings of the 1999 Ophthalmic Technologies IX
CitySan Jose, CA, USA
Period1/23/991/25/99

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Eye movements during fixation: Implications to long-term viewing of small optical sources'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this