Introduction
The Clinical Eye Tracker
Thomson Software Solutions
131a Dixons Hill Road
Hatfield
Herts AL9 7DW
Tel: 01707 414 7000
Email: support@thomson-software-solutions.com
Web: www.thomson-software-solutions.com
Manual: Revision 2.2 April 2025
The Clinical Eye Tracker complies with the requirements of the United Kingdom Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 No. 618, as amended) (UK MDR 2002).
The Clinical Eye Tracker complies with the requirements of the European Union Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745/EU
Thomson Software Solutions
131a Dixons Hill Road
Hatfield
Herts AL9 7DW
Phone 01707 414700
EMAIL: support@thomson-software-solutions.com
Intended Use
The Clinical Eye Tracker is intended to be used by eye care professionals and researchers to assess the characteristics of eye movements while the patient views a variety of images and stimuli selected by the clinician and presented on a display screen.
PLEASE NOTE: Any serious incident that has occurred in relation to the Thomson Clinical Eye Tracker should be reported to Thomson Software Solutions and to the Medical Devices Competent Authority in the country in which the incident occurred.
Introduction
While humans can detect objects over the entire visual field, we can only see fine detail over a very small portion of the central visual field (corresponding to the fovea/macula area of the retina). This means that when objects are detected in the peripheral field, we have to move our head/ eyes to place the object of interest onto the fovea where it can then be resolved and recognised.
While this is a very efficient design in terms of information processing, it does require a fast and accurate mechanism for moving the head and eyes.
Eye position is determined by a complex balancing act performed by the six extra-ocular muscles under the control of a complex neural network in the brain. There is a huge literature describing the anatomy, physiology, neurology and psychology of eye movements and it is strongly recommended that users of the Clinical Eye Tracking system familiarise themselves with this literature.
The purpose of this manual is to describe the application of the Clinical Eye Tracker 5L – it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that the instrument is used properly and the results are interpreted appropriately.
While humans can detect objects over the entire visual field, we can only see fine detail over a very small portion of the central visual field (corresponding to the fovea/macula area of the retina). This means that when objects are detected in the peripheral field, we have to move our head/ eyes to place the object of interest onto the fovea where it can then be resolved and recognised.
While this is a very efficient design in terms of information processing, it does require a fast and accurate mechanism for moving the head and eyes.
Eye position is determined by a complex balancing act performed by the six extra-ocular muscles under the control of a complex neural network in the brain. There is a huge literature describing the anatomy, physiology, neurology and psychology of eye movements and it is strongly recommended that users of the Clinical Eye Tracking system familiarise themselves with this literature.
The Clinical Eye Tracker is an exciting new tool for Optometrists, Orthoptists, Ophthalmologists or others who have an interest in eye movements and binocular vision.
The system uses a small bar which is mounted below a computer screen. The bar incorporates IR cameras which detect the position of the eyes to within less than 1 degree.
A wide range of test stimuli can then be presented on the screen and following a quick calibration, the system records the position of each eye at approximately 60 measurements per second.
The software replays exactly where the patient was looking and shows the horizontal and vertical position of the eyes and convergence/ phoria. Powerful built in analysis algorithms automatically provide a range of statistics relating to reading performance.
The purpose of this manual is to describe the application of the Clinical Eye Tracker – it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that the instrument is used properly and the results are interpreted appropriately.