Automated measurement of ocular movements abnormalities in primary congenital glaucoma using DIVE device: A pilot study of fixation, smooth pursuit and saccadic movements

Abstract

Purpose

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is a significant cause of childhood vision loss. While visual acuity can be measured, it does not always reflect visual functioning in daily life, particularly as oculomotor skills are often compromised in ocular disorders. This pilot study assesses oculomotor behavior in children with PCG compared to healthy peers using the Device for an Integral Visual Examination (DIVE).

Methods

Twelve children with PCG (n = 24 eyes) and 24 healthy children (n = 48 eyes), aged 6 months to 4 years, were recruited. DIVE was used for automated oculomotor assessments, measuring fixation (gaze stability, fixation stability, and duration of fixation), saccadic movements (reaction time, peak velocity), and smooth pursuit (latency, gain).

Results

PCG children showed significantly poorer gaze stability in both short (0.68 log degree², 0.29–0.94 frente a 0.15 log degree², −0.17–0.59; p < 0.05) and long tasks (1.08 log degree², 0.79–1.84 frente a 0.57 log degree², 0.30–0.85; p < 0.05), and poorer fixation stability in short (−0.20 log degree², −0.27 to −0.17 frente a −0.48 log degree², −0.55 to −0.30; p < 0.05) and long tasks (−0.11 log degree², −0.20 to −0.04 frente a −0.41 log degree², −0.57 to −0.26; p < 0.05). Fixation durations were shorter, and saccadic reaction times were longer in the PCG group, while pursuit latency showed no significant difference (p = 0.8118).

Conclusions

Children with PCG have significantly impaired oculomotor behavior, including greater instability in gaze and fixation, shorter fixation durations, and longer saccadic reaction times compared to healthy peers.