A PC based method for clinical evaluation of saccadic eye movements

A program is presented which computes saccade parameters and evaluates the amplitude/duration and amplitude/peak velocity relationships, the latency, and precision and symmetry as a function of target offset. Based on statistical methods, it gives a judgement of normality. Data were collected from a population of 76 normal subjects whose ages ranged from 10 to 80 years. Subjects were divided, according to their age, into 7 groups. Several statistical methods were used to find the most significant method to be used for patient comparison. Once the statistical method was tested on patients, an automatic computer program was developed which, based on these statistical methods, gives the examiner the results of the comparison in a simple, comprehensive way that can be easily understood, even by people not familiar with statistical problems. The program is implemented on a MS-DOS personal computer equipped with an input/output device for online acquisition of eye movements.