Assessment of oculomotor function after prolonged computer use

Abstract

To analyze the specific effects of prolonged computer use on oculomotor function, we propose an oculomotor function evaluation system to analyze changes in oculomotor movement function by using an eye tracker to record eye movement data when performing gaze, smooth pursuit, and saccade under normal condition, after one hour and one and a half hours of continuous working at a computer. The captured eye movement data is pre-processed, and then data features are calculated and analyzed to understand the specific effects of continuously using the computer on the oculomotor function. The results show that the oculomotor function decreases as we gaze at the computer screen for longer periods, as evidenced by a decrease in the stability of the gaze function, a reduction in the gaze focus, a reduction in the speed of eye saccades, and a decrease in the smooth pursuit function. In short, the oculomotor function worsens after prolonged working at a computer. This paper presents the effects of continuously using the computer quantificationally for the first time. The proposed oculomotor function evaluation system could also be used to assess patients who have a disability in oculomotor function and specific individuals, e.g. pilots.